PROCELLARIN^E. PUFFINUS. 261 



colour, becoming of a deeper tint when kept. I have observed 

 great differences in the size, form, and colour of the bill in 

 this species. 



Fulmar. Fulmar Petrel. Mallemoke. 



Procellaria glacialis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 562. Procellaria 

 glacialis, Lath. Ind. Ornith. ii. 823. Procellaria glacialis, 

 Temm. Man. d'Ornith. ii. 802. Procellaria glacialis, North- 

 ern Fulmar, MacGillivray, Brit. Birds, v. 



GENUS CLVI. PUFFINUS. SHEARWATER. 



The Shearwaters are birds of moderate or rather small 

 size, intermediate in form between the Fulmars and Petrels, 

 and resembling both in their habits. Their body is mode- 

 rately full ; the neck rather short : the head rather large, 

 and oblong. Bill of about the length of the head, rather 

 slender, much compressed toward the end, slightly recurved, 

 with the tips decurved ; upper mandible with the dorsal line 

 nearly straight, abrupt at the nostrils, which are dorsal, each 

 covered with a lateral convex plate, sides convex, edges 

 sharp, tip strong, hmch compressed, decurved, acute ; lower 

 mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the dorsal 

 line decurved, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip decurved 

 and acute. Feet rather large, placed far back ; tibia bare 

 below ; tarsus moderate, compressed, reticulated ; hind toe 

 rudimentary or obsolete, but with a small conical deflected 

 claw ; anterior toes long, slender, with full webs ; outer 

 toe slightly longer ; claws arched, compressed, acute. Plu- 

 mage full, close, blended, on the upper parts rather compact; 

 wings very long, narrow, pointed ; tail moderate, graduated 

 or rounded, of twelve feathers. 



The Shearwaters are distinguished from the Fulmars by 

 their much more slender and compressed bill, of which both 

 points are decurved, and by their more compressed tarsi. 

 They are oceanic birds, of wandering habits, having a rapid 

 gliding flight, and somewhat nocturnal, like the Petrels. 

 Their food consists of animal substances of various kinds, 

 and is picked up from the water, generally while the bird 

 is hovering. They and the Petrels exhibit in the highest 

 degree the habit, common to them and Mews and Gulls, of 

 letting down their feet while hovering, and patting the wa- 



