FULMARS AND SHEARWATERS 



33 



instead of following vessels for food it usually gives a wide berth 

 to any species of sailing craft. At Monterey, in stormy winter 

 weather, Mr. Loomis has seen some of the birds in the bay. The 

 largest number he has recorded from the region were seen off Point 

 Pinos, a dozen being counted in an hour. 



GENUS THALASSOGERON. 



[83.] Thalassogeron culminatus (Gould). YELLOW-NOSED ALBA- 

 TROSS. 



Horny plate on top of bill not widened back of nostrils ; a strip of soft 

 skin between top and side plates ; size of a large goose. Adults : head, 

 neck, and shoulders gray, shading into blackish of back, wings, and tail ; 

 under parts white ; bill black on sides, bordered above and below with 

 yellow. Length: 35-37, wing 17.75-21.00, bill 4.35-4.50, tail 8-9. 



Distribution. Southern oceans, north casually to coast of Oregon and 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence. 



GENUS PHCEBETRIA. 



84. Phcebetria fuliginosa (GmeL). SOOTY ALBATROSS. 



Tail long and graduated, reaching well beyond tips of folded wings ; 



size large. Adults : eyelids white, area 

 around eyes blackish ; sides of head 

 and throat sooty ; rest of under parts 

 light smoky gray ; back of neck and 

 back smoky gray ; wing and tail sooty ; 

 bill black, feet yellowish. Young (?): 

 upper parts blackish except for slaty 

 gray on middle of back ; under parts 

 slaty gray. Length : 34-37, wing 20.00- 

 21.50, extent 78-84, tail 10.50-13.00. 



Distribution. South Pacific, north 

 (casually) to coast of Oregon. 



O 



Fig. 53. 



FAMILY FROCELLARIIDJE : FULMARS AND 

 SHEARWATERS. 



. . Ossifraga, p. 34. 

 Oceanodroma, p. 37. 



Fig. 54, 



* KEY TO GENERA. 



1. Wing 17 or more, tail feathers 16 

 1'. Wing 15 or less, tail feathers 12-14. 



2. Wing 7 or less, tail forked . . . 



2'. Wing 9 or more, tail not forked. 



3. Nasal tubes opening separately, with partition as wide as 



opening Puffinus, p. 35. 



3'. Nasal tubes opening together and inclosing a thin par- 

 tition between nostrils. 



4. Bill short and stout, about twice as long as depth at 

 base Fulmarus, p. 34. 



4.' Bill long and slender, over twice as long as depth at 

 base Priocella, p. 34. 



