NATATORES — PROCELLARIDJ2-PUFFINUS. 
287 
FAMILY PROCELLARIDYE. 
Bill composed of several pieces, hooked at the tip. NoSirils 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. 
PtJFFINUS CINEREUS. 
PLATE CXXXVI. FIGS. 297, 298. 
(CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 
■JProceHariapu.ffi.nus, LlNN.*us, p. 213. 
P. cinereus , Cuvier. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. Vol. 2, p. 370. 
Puffinus cinereus. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 334. Audubon, 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, 2'0 long. Hind nail O'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. Young1 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 Slack. 
Length, 18'0-20'0. 
