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GIGANTIC FULMAR. 



Procellaria gigantea, Linn. 



A SPECIMEN of the Gigantic Fulmar, shot at some distance from 

 the mouth of the Columbia River, has been sent to me by Dr Townsend, 

 along with those of the other species of the same genus described in 

 this volume, and which it resembles in form and proportions. The 

 great size of this bird gives it at first sight the appearance of an Alba- 

 tross. It is described as frequent in the southern seas, gliding silently 

 over the surface of the waters, and subsisting on carcasses of cetacea, 

 seals, birds, and other animal matter ; the saUors distinguishing them 

 by the name of " Mother Carey's Geese." The individual in my pos- 

 session may be described as follows : — 



Procellahia gigantea, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 563 — LatlLlnA. Ornith. vol. i. 



p. 820. 

 Gigantic Fulmar, Fulmarus giganteus, Stejjh. Shaw's Zool. vol. xiii. p. 237. 



Bill longer than the head, robust, straight, moderately compressed, 

 with the tip decurved. Upper mandible with the nostrils on the ridge, 

 separated only by a thin septum, covered by a broad elongated horny 

 case, of which the ridge is nearly straight and carinate, and the base 

 striated ; the sides erect and convex, separated by a groove from the 

 nasal plate, as well as from the unguis, which is remarkably strong, 

 curved, laterally convex, and acute, the edges blunt, direct, slightly 

 recurved, along the unguis sharp and decurved. Lower mandible with 

 the angle long and narrow, the sides sloping a little outwards and 

 nearly flat, with a longitudinal seam near the edges, which are inclinate 

 and sharp, the tip compressed, the dorsal outline ascending and ex- 

 tremely sharp, the edges at the end suddenly decurved. 



Head rather large, ovate ; neck rather long ; body full. Legs 

 short, rather stout ; tibia bare for an inch and a quarter ; tarsus a little 

 compressed, covered with angular scales, of which the posterior are 

 much smaller. Hind toe elevated, its first phalanx scarcely apparent, 

 its claw large, somewhat conical, obtuse, flattened beneath ; the fore 



