NATATORES — PROCELLARID^ — PUFFINUS. 287 



FAMILY PROCELLARIDjE. 



Bill composed of several pieces, hooked at the tip. Nostrils tubular. Feet three-toed ; or 

 in place of the hind toe, only a sharp nail, which is itself sometimes wanting. 



Obs. A family comprising about eight American species. 



GENUS PUFFINUS. Brisson. 



Bill longer than the head, sharply curved at the tip. Lower mandible pointed, deflected at 

 the tip, following the curvation of the upper, with a seam on each side : mental angle 

 obsolete. Nostrils in a double tube, extending one-fourth of the length of the bill. Tarsus 

 equal to the middle toe in length. Webs full, entire. Tail rounded. 



THE LARGE SHEARWATER. 



PUFFINUS CINEREUS. 

 PLATE CXXXVI. FIGS. 297, 29& 



(CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 



Procellaria puffimu. LlNRfUS, p. 213. 



P. ctnerms, Covier. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. Vol. 2, p. 370. 



Pufuna cmereus. Ntttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 334. Aodcbon, B. of A. Vol. 7, p. 212, pi. 456 (male). 



Characteristics. Bill 1 "7 -2*0 long. Tarsus 2 - 0. Tail conical. Adult, nearly entirely 

 a uniform sooty brown. Tail shorter than the wings. Young? pure 

 white beneath. Length, 19 inches. 



Description. Adult : Nostrils concealed under the same vaulted tube. Tarsi much com- 

 pressed, acute on both edges, 2 - long. Hind nail - 3, situated high up : middle nail dilated 

 on its inner edge. First quill longest. Tail graduated, of twelve feathers. Tips of the 

 wings extending about an inch beyond the tail. 



Color. Head and all above blackish brown, with the tips of the scapulars lighter. Quills 

 and tail brownish black. Throat and all beneath dark ashen grey ; the tips of the feathers 

 somewhat darker. Outer sides of the tarsi dusky : inner and the webs yellowish ; the latter 

 somewhat darker towards their margins. Young ? tubes of the nostrils distinct. Color : 

 head and all above chocolate-brown ; all the feathers bordered with lighter ; inner webs of 

 the quills white at the base ; chin, sides of the neck, and all beneath pure white ; under tail- 

 coverts tipped with dusky ; quills and tail black. 



Length, 18'0-20-0, 



