l62 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



prises what is known as flats, lying along the Genesee river, about 40 miles 

 south of Lake Ontario." Other specimens have since been taken in New 

 Zealand, one of which is in the State collection. 



Family PROCELL A.KIID AE 



Stormy Petrels 



Small in size; first primary shorter than second; both mandibles hooked; 

 nasal ttibcs prominent with thin partition; tail of 12 feathers; wings of 

 moderate length; hallux minute; no basipterygoids ; coracoids slender, 

 their axes only slightl}' diverging ; a long manubrium of the f urcula ; rear 

 border of sternum even. 



There are two \\iA\ marked sub- 

 families of the Stomiy petrels, which 

 some would give the rank of families. 

 The Procellariiiiae are short-legged, 

 tiljia slightly bare, with numerous 

 secondaries, and sharp, curved, com- 

 pressed claws. The Oceanitinae have 

 long legs, the tibia bare an inch or 

 more, only 10 secondaries, and broad, 

 flat, blunt claws. 



Thalassidroma pelagica (Linnaeus) 

 Stormy Petrd 



In color similar to Wilson petrel, excepting 

 the wing coverts, ■which are not tipped with 

 whitish as in that species. Size much smaller. 



Length 5.5-5.75 inches; wing 4.5-4.8; tail 2.5, 

 bill .45; tarsus .9; middle toe and claw .82. 



The Storm)' or Least petrel is said to be the 

 most abundant species of bird in the world. 

 Though common on the European side of the 

 Atlantic, it is rarely found on the American side. 

 It has been ascribed to Long Island by Giraud 

 and Lawrence, but no definite records have been given and no specimens of this bird from Long 

 Island have been found in their collections. If it occurs at all on our coast, it must be very rarely, or 

 at a considerable distance offshore. 



Stormy petrel. Thalassidroma pelagica (Linnaeus). 

 From Audubon. Birds of America 



