Vol. XI II Anthony. The Fulmar!' of Soiifkcni California. lO^ 



obtain their food in open water where they are much oftener seen 

 than along the immense beds of kelp [Macrocystis pyrifera) and 

 'bull kelp' {Nerecystis lutkena) that fringe the .shores for miles 

 along the southern coast. These kelp beds, however, acting as 

 barriers to drifting Medusa, often entangle a quantity of them, and 

 for the time being Fulmars are common near .shore. They will 

 also follow the Shearwaters which at times drive schools of small 

 fish into the kelp beds. In diving for fish in competition with 

 Shearwaters they are badly handicapped; their plumage being 

 much less compact makes it not only more difficult for them to 

 get under the water but they cannot dive so far nor swim so fast 

 below the surface as can the Shearwaters. 



In flight the Fulmars much more closely resemble the Shear- 

 waters than the Albatross, though they have the habit common to 

 all of these families of sailing along over the water at an angle of 

 about 45° with the tip of the lower w-ing but just above the waves. 

 The wing beats are rapid, about as in Piiffinus, and there is at a 

 distance little to distinguish the Fulmars in the dark phase from 

 Puffinus griseus, except the shorter, less pointed wings and heavier 

 body of Fnhnanis. 



In rising from the water the Fulmars, Shearwaters and both 

 species of Albatross found with us (Diomedea albatrus and D. 

 iiigriceps) spread the wings and run along the water for a distance 

 to gain sufficient momentum to lift them clear of the waves. The 

 Fulmars will almost invariably, according to my observations, rise 

 toward an approaching boat, while both Puffinus and Diomedea 

 always fly from anything disturbing them and rise preferably 

 against the wind. 



Before discussing the relative abundance of the races, I think 

 best, in order to have names for all of them, to describe a race 

 which I believe to be heretofore unrecognized and as well entitled 

 to separation as is minor of the Atlantic. For this race I propose 

 the name of 



Fulmarus glacialis columba, subsp. nov. Pigeon Fulmar. 



Subsp. char. — Differing from gliipischa in much smaller size, equalling 

 w/«or, from ^vhich it differs in differently colored bill and in the dark 

 phase being much darker. 



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