SOOTY SHEARWATER 



94. Puffinus griseus. 17 in. 



Sooty grayish-black all over except the under wing 

 coverts, which are whitish; eye brown, bill and feet 

 black. A few of these may usually be seen with flocks 

 of the Greater Shearwaters, and sometimes a flock com- 

 posed entirely of this variety will be encountered. They 

 are expert swimmers on the surface of the water, but 

 I have never seen one dive. Their food is almost if not 

 wholly composd of oily refuse . gathered from the sur- 

 face of the water. In order to take flight, they paddle 

 along the water a few steps; it is difficult for them to 

 rise, except against the wind. If you sail upon them 

 irom the windward, they go squawking and pattering 

 over the water in all directions, and can frequently be 

 caught in nets. They are very tame, and will some- 

 times take food offered them, from the hand. 



Notes. Guttural squawks like those of the large 

 species. 



Range. North Atlantic coast in summer. 



