SHEARWATERS 



(88) Puffinus borealis Cory 



(Lat., puffin, Ijy mistake given to Mimx 

 Sheanvutcr; northern). 



CORY'S SHEARWATER. Ad.~ 

 Bill rather large, hooked, yellowish; 

 nostril tube quite prominent. Baclc 

 gra)', slightly darker on the wings 

 and tail and much lighter on the 

 head. Entire under parts and bases 

 of primaries white. L., 21.00; W., 

 14.50; T., 6.50; B., 2.25, depth at 

 base .75; Tar. 2.20. 



Range — Known only from off the 

 coast of Mass. and Long Island 

 Sound, where it is occasionally found 

 from June until October. Some- 

 what like P. kuhU, found in the 

 Mediterranean, but considerably 

 larger and apparently quite distinct. 



nest in almost countless numbers on the rocky cliffs of the 

 far north. One of the best known and most accessible 

 breeding places is on St. Kilda off the coast of Scotland. 

 Single white eggs are deposited on the bare rocky ledges. 

 The young remain on these ledges, barring accidents, until 

 fully fledged, being fed by the regurgitation by their parents 

 of a clear, amber-colored oil. This oil has a very peculiar 

 and offensive odor that is always evident about the nesting 

 places of birds of this family, and is retained by both eggs 

 and skins for many years. 



Shearwaters bear little resemblance to gulls; the back, tail 

 and even the head are quite dark, the bill is comparatively 

 slender and the wings much narrower than those of gulls. 



CORY'S SHEARWATERS are the largest as well as 

 the lightest colored of the eastern species. They can readily 

 be distinguished in life from Greater Shearwaters, which 

 are nearly as large, by the lighter colored heads and the 

 pale yellowish bills. Although they are not extremely 



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