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. 
