PbFFlNUS MAJOR. oo 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the white axiliarics. Distributed off tlie Nortliern Atlantic Coa^t. Dimensions. Length, 575; stretch 

 l3-5«; wing, 5-10, tail, l!-25; bill, 60; tarsus, -80. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Ei/t/.i. placed in holes of cliffs, one in number, elliptical in .form, white in color, obscurely dotted wit li reddish on the 

 larger end. Dimensions froui 'TSx 1 10 to 'Wz I'l'J. 



HABITS. 

 The smuU Stormy Petrel is said by Audubon and others, to occur on the Banks ot'Ncw- 

 fouiulhiud and off the coast, but I have never met with it, althotigh it is doubtlessly occa- 

 sionally found with us. This species breeds in a few localities on the islands north of Scot- 

 land, placing the eggs in holes of cliffs, and does not differ in general habits from other 

 Petrels, 



GENUS III. PUFFINUS THE SHEARWATERS. 

 Gen. Cii. Bill, about as hny ax head and sironyly curved at the tip. Tail, short and roundrd. Primarir.i, very wide. 

 Membei-s of this genus are rather large and usually dark in color. There arc three species witliiu our limits. 



PUFFINUS MAJOR. 



Greater Shearwater. 



Puffmus major Bun., Con. Avi.; 1H55, 203. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. Cii. Form, robust. Size, large. Color. Adult. Above, dark-brown becoming lighter on occiput and margin 



1)1 feathers, and darker on primaries and tail. Inner webs of secondaries and beneath, white which nearly encircles neck. 



Lower tail coverts, ashy. Iris, brown; hill and feet, yellowish. Youny, similar but with white overwashed wiih sooty. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the large size and dusky color above. Occurs off the coiust. Dimensions. Length, 20'00; stretch, 4.') ■00; 

 wing, 13-25; tail, 5 00; bill, 2-25; tai-sus, 2-35. 



HABITS. 



The Greater Shearwaters appear to be quite common on the Banks of Newfoundhind 

 and northward, especially in autumn, when they migrate southward. They have all the 

 lighl, graceful movements of the smaller Petrels, and swim, as well as dive, with ease. 

 They accompany the fishing ves.sels to feed upon the offal, and tire called Ilagdons by sail- 

 ors. The Greater Shearwaters breed far north. 



PUFFINUS BOREALIS. 

 Cory's Shearwater. 



I*UFFIXUS BOKE.VLIS CoiiT, Uull. N\ltt. Oril. Club. Vol. VII, iVpril, ISSl. 



riatt' ll.liK 1; lioad of adult. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cii. Form, mhust. Sizi\ larjic. Color. Adult. Abovo,ashy,boe'oniiii};li)-own(Hi back, whore 



ilic feathers are edged with liglitcr. Wings and tail, dark-brown. Sides of head and iioek, ashy bko the 



^cifk, hut gradually tecome white beneath, and the remainder of the lower portions are wliite. The sides 



iiiid \iii(kT tail eo\erts are sligiitly mottled with asli, and the flunks are ash. The upper tail coverts are ash, 



h;iU(led witli white at the tips, and some iif the feathers are edgeil with white. Iris, brown. Jiill, yellow, 



crossed near the tip with a durlv li;ind. Feet, yellow, darker externally. Se.xcs, similar. 



OJJSEllV.VnONS. 



'I'he following com]iarative descriiitimi will give abetter idea of this fine six;cics, as distinguished from 

 the (i renter Shearwater. Tlic hill of Cory's Shearwater is ahnost entirely yellow, being dusky only ina 

 band across b >th mandibles and on the top of the upper; whereas that of the Greater is nearly or wholly blu- 

 ish. Tiio si/.e of the bill of T. borealis is larger, exceeding -MX) in length and .sOin dc!>th at the imstrils. 



