524 NATATORES. PROCELLARIA. 



tubular, contained in an elevated convex sheath reaching as 

 far as the arch of the dertrum, opening outwardly by a single 

 orifice. Wings long and acuminate ; the first quill-feather 

 exceeding the rest in length. Tail slightly rounded. Legs 

 of mean length and strength ; tarsi reticulated ; feet of three 

 toes, webbed ; toes long and slender ; the outer and middle 

 ones being of nearly equal length, and longer than the inner 

 one ; hind toe represented by a strong and slightly recurved 

 nail. Claws long, and rather falcate. 



The present genus, of which the Fulmar may be con- 

 sidered the type, has been separated from the rest of the 

 Petrels (genus Procellaria of authors) by some of the most 

 eminent systematists of our age, on account of the different 

 character displayed in the form of the bill. In the members 

 of this genus it is of great power, being much dilated at the 

 base, and armed with a very strong and hooked dertrum. 

 The nostrils, though divided by a septum within the nasal 

 sheath, exhibit externally only one large rounded aperture. 

 Their habits are more diurnal than those of the Shearwaters 

 and Storm Petrels. Their flight is easy and buoyant, and 

 they are almost constantly on wing, only alighting on the 

 ocean to take a short repose, and rarely coming to land, ex- 

 cept during the period of incubation. They feed upon the 

 blubber of whales and other cetaceous animals, as well as 

 fish, and possess (like most of the nearly allied groups) the 

 property of squirting a clear liquid oil from their tubular 

 nostrils with much force, and as a method of defence. The 

 sexes are of similar plumage, and the changes from the young 

 to the adult state, although not violent, are supposed to oc- 

 cupy two years. They are inhabitants of the higher latitudes 

 of both Hemispheres, and breed in the holes and on the ledges 

 of precipitous rocks ; laying but one egg, which is of a large 

 size, and white. 



