374 



THE TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS — TUBINARES. 



Total length, about 18.50 inches ; wing, 13.00-13.50; tail, 5.00 ; culmen, 2.10 ; tarsus, 1.90. 



A specimen from South Africa has a much slenderer bill than have two examples from Oregon ; 

 the bill is also difl'erently colored, the dusky of the basal portion of the maxilla being almost or 

 quite absent, and that at the tip more restricted. 



This species was first described by Audubon from a specimen procured near the 

 Pacific coast by Dr. Townsend, which was said to have been taken at sea, not far 



from the mouth of the Columbia 

 Eiver. The only information in re- 

 gard to it, as furnished by Mr. Towns- 

 end, is derived from a brief manu- 

 script note appended to the bird, and 

 quoted by Audubon, to the effect that 

 it was first observed when about a 

 day's sail from the mouth of the Co- 

 lumbia. Its habits are spoken of as 

 almost precisely the same as those of 

 Daption capensis, both keeping con- 

 stantly around the vessel, and fre- 

 quently alighting in her wake, for the 

 purpose of feeding. It was easily 

 taken with a hook baited with pork, 

 and at times — particularly during a 

 gale — was so tame as almost to allow 

 itself to be taken with the hand. 

 The stomachs of most of the birds 

 that Dr. Town send captured were 

 found to contain a species of sepia 

 and some oil. 

 According to Mr. Cassin, it has a most extensive range of locality, being known to 

 frequent the southern points of both of the great divisions of the globe, and those of 

 Australia, and many other localities in the Pacific Ocean. Only a single specimen 

 was found among the collection brought home by the Wilkes Exploring Expedition, 

 which was labelled as having been obtained on the coast of Oregon. 



According to Dr. Cooper, the only more recent evidence of the appearance of this 

 species ou our Pacific coast, and of its claim to be classed as a bird of California, is 

 founded upon a supposed skeleton of a bird of this species obtained on the beach of 

 Catalina Island in June, 1863. 



Ge>^us PRIOFINUS, Hombron and Jacquinot. 



Priofimis, Homb. & Jacq. Compt. Rend. XVIII. 1844, 355 (type, ProccUaria cincrca, Gmel. ). 

 Adamastor, Bonap. Consj). II. 1856, 187 (type, A. typus, Bv.^^ ProccUaria cincrca, Gmel.). 



Char. Size medium ; rectrices, twelve ; bill moderately stout, the culmen much shorter than 

 the tarsus, and about three times the greatest depth of the bill near the base ; nasal tubes short, 

 and separated from the maxillary unguis by a s])ace equal in extent to about two thirds the length 

 of the unguis, which is more than twice as long as the nasal tubes ; nostrils nearly circular, 

 opening directly forward. 



