TOWNSEND ANF ALLEN: LABRADOR BIRDS. 319 



retreated southward, is that of Audubon ('38, p. 175) who says: "It 

 is to be supposed that it is not met with beyond the western shores 

 of Labrador, where, however, I found it in abundance and breeding, 

 in the beginning of June, 1833," and he obtained specimens. 



Fulmarus glacialis (Linn.). 



Fulmar. 



Common visitor. 



Fulmars are very abundant along the north and east coasts of 

 Labrador at times. They are usually met with off the Straits of Belle 

 Isle, northward, in summer, and according to Audubon are "regularly 

 observed in spring moving northward in files" opposite the entrance 

 of these Straits. They appear to enter the Straits rarely, if at all, but 

 keep out to sea, and approach land during storms only. In our voy- 

 age along the east coast, we observed them but once, when on July 

 19th, during a violent northeast storm, a few came about the vessel 

 off Cape Harrison. In all about eight birds were seen, of which but 

 two were in the light phase. The species is not known to breed in 

 Labrador. 



Puffinus gravis (O'Reilly). 



Greater Shearwater; "Hag"; "Hagdon." 



Abundant summer visitor. 



This bird, breeding in the Antarctic summer, avoids winter alto- 

 gether by spending the non-breeding season in the summer of the 

 northern seas. It is found at sea off the southern and eastern coasts 

 of Labrador, rarely approaching very close to land except in storms 

 and fog. In one of the frequent storms of this coast we were so 

 fortunate as to run into a great flock of these birds on July 15th not 

 far from Spear Harbor. As we steamed along we first passed single 

 birds, then groups of from 50 to 300, and later great flocks of 1000. 

 It was impossible to count them but we roughly estimated from five 

 to ten thousand shearwaters. Among them were only three Sooty 

 Shearwaters. It was a rare sight and had a fitting setting in a 

 background of rough and broken granitic rocks, a stormy sea, and 

 scudding drifts of fog. With outstretched and almost motionless wings 

 slightly decurved, the shearwaters glided over the waves, following 

 them so closely, that we momentarily expected to see the birds 

 disappear in the foam. Again they swing about in graceful curves, 



