TEE, BEACK VENTED SHEARWATER. 867 
“By lying flat upon the rail of the scooner I could just reach the water 
with my finger tips when the waves favored me, but even at this disadvantage 
it was only a few moments till I had captured several Fulmars by coaxing 
them up with bits of fish and grabbing them when the roll of the vessel placed 
me near enough. When thrown upon deck they made no attempt to fly, but 
with outstretched wings hurried to the rail, over which they could just reach, 
and emptied the contents of their stomachs into the sea, a performance they 
attempted to repeat whenever they were disturbed. Their actions were so 
like those of sea-sick landsmen that it was extremely laughable. The popular 
belief among sailors is that they are really sea-sick, but of course the action is 
prompted by anything but nausea. It is more likely that the stomach contents 
are given up as the Tern disgorges when pursued by a Jaeger, as a ransom. 
“In catching Fulmars with my bare hand I found it was quite safe to let 
go of them as soon as convenient, for they are provided with an unusually 
sharp bill, and are singularly willing to use it.” 
No. 350. 
BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER. 
A. O. U. No. 93. Puffinus opisthomelas Coues. 
Description.—4dult: Upper plumage dark sooty brown to blackish, lighter 
anteriorly, darker behind, shading on sides of head, neck, and on sides to white of 
remaining underparts; wider tail-coverts and crissum, just short of vent, sooty 
brown; bill slender, (in the skin) blackish above, lighter below; tarsus behind 
and outer toe blackish; tarsus in front and inner toes with webs (drying) yellow- 
ish. Length: 12.00-14.00 (304.8-355.6) ; wing 9.00 (228.6); tail 3.75 (95.3); 
bill 1.40 (35.6), depth at base .40 (10.2), at terminal convexity .30 (7.6). 
Recognition Marks.—Little Hawk size, but of course appearing much larger 
—nearer Gull size to eye; long pointed wings; alternate flapping and sailing flight. 
Nesting.—Not known to breed in Washington. Single white egg laid at end 
of burrow in earth-bank, five or six feet in. Av. size of egg 2.00 x 1.30 (50.8 x 
33). Season: c. April 10; one brood. 
General Range.—Pacific Ocean, breeding on islands off Lower California; 
north in summer along coasts to (at least) Vancouver Island. 
Range in Washington.—Not common in late summer off western coast. 
Authorities.—Dawson, Auk, XXV. Oct. 1908, p. 485 (A. W. Anthony in 
epist.). 
Specimens.—Prov. 
THE “pathless wastes” of ocean not only have no terrors for these hardy 
navigators, but they appear to be endowed with a subtle sense whereby they are 
