556 WANDERING SHEARWATER. 



port itself on the surface, without actually alighting. In the stomach of 

 those which I opened, I found fishes, portions of crabs, sea-weeds, and 

 oily substances. It does not appear that this species goes far north, as 

 was formerly supposed ; for none of the late northern voyagers mention 

 having seen it, although they found the Fulmar abundant. 



PuFFiNUS ciNEREUS, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of the United States, p. 370. 

 Phocellauia cinerea, Lath. Ind. Omith. vol. ii. p. 10. 

 Cinereous Puffin, Nuttall, Manual, p. 334. 



Adult Male. Plate CCLXXXI 1 1. 



Bill about the same length as the head, rather slender, nearly as deep 

 as broad at the base, compressed towards the end, slightly curved upwards, 

 with the tips decurved. Upper mandible with a cere at the base extend- 

 ing narrow to the nostrils, which are placed above, each covered with a 

 lateral convex plate, and open anteriorly, with an elliptical aperture ; 

 the dorsal line as far as the nostrils nearly straight, then suddenly de- 

 flected, after which it is slightly concave, ^ but towards the tip incurved, 

 the ridge very broad and convex at the base, narrower beyond the nos- 

 trils, from which a groove proceeds obliquely to the commencement of 

 the hooked tip; the sides convex and nearly erect, the edges sharp. 

 Lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the dorsal line 

 beyond it, decurved, the sides sloping outwards, the edges sharp and in- 

 flected, the curved tip grooved above. 



Head rather large, oblong, rather compressed. Neck short and stout. 

 Body moderate, deeper than broad. Wings long. Feet rather large ; 

 tibia bare for a short space below ; tarsus of moderate length, compressed, 

 covered all round with angular scales, the hind ones much smaller ; hind 

 toe obsolete, but with a small conical deflected claw; fore toes long, slen- 

 der, connected by reticulated webs, the lateral ones with thin edges ; outer 

 toe slightly longer than the third, but with a shorter claw, the first con- 

 siderably shorter ; toes scutellate above ; claws arched, compressed, acute, 

 that of third toe with an enlarged sharp edge. 



Plumage soft, close, blended ; on the back compact, the feathers 

 rounded. Wnigs very long, pointed ; primary quills tapering, the first 

 longest, the second considerably shorter, the rest rapidly graduated; se- 

 condaries short, broad, obliquely I'ounded, the inner not elongated. U'ail 

 of moderate length, graduated, of twelve rounded feathers. 



