The Dark-bodied Shearwater 



when the new crop arrives in late July. Fortunately [!], this is also 

 the season of abundant fare. Vast shoals of herrings, anchovies, and 

 surf-fish become enamored of our fascinating shores, and are closely fol- 

 lowed by the rapacious host of Shearwaters. Prudence usually forbids 

 a closer approach than the kelp-line; but if the fish are reckless, so are 

 their persecutors. I have seen thousands settle within rifle shot of the 

 beach ; and Anthony tells of a company at Cape Colnett which fought 

 with the breakers for certain coveted delicatessen. 



No. 407 



Dark-bodied Shearwater 



A. O. U. No. 95. Puffinus griseus (Gmelin). 



Synonyms. — Sooty Shearwater. Whale-bird. 



Description. — Adults: General plumage dark sooty brown, blackening on dis- 

 tal scapulars and wings, lightening (sooty gray) below, lightest, sometimes nearly 

 white, on chin; lower eyelid touched with white; axillars sooty, but lining of wings 

 chiefly white with some dusky marbling. Bill comparatively large and stout, black; 

 tarsus black outside, and outer toe black on the outside; tarsus inside, the inner toe, 

 and the outer toe on the inside, yellow; the webbing black (or perhaps yellow in 

 breeding season, and. Buller). Length (av. 10 Monterey specimens): 465 (18.30); 

 wing 287 (1 1.29) ; bill 42.5 (1.67), depth at base 13.5 (.53); tarsus 57.1 (2.25). 



Recognition Marks. — Really teal length, but appearing gull size by reason of 

 stout body and long wings; dusky plumage; rapid flight with alternate flap and sail; 

 follows surface of water closely; appears usually in immense flocks or long continuous 

 lines off-shore; a little smaller than creatopus, much larger than opisthomelas; very 

 like tenuirostris, but larger and with more extensive white on under surface of wing. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Single white egg laid at end of burrow 

 in hillside, several feet in and often miles from water. Av. size 67.3 x 45.7 (2.65 x 

 1.80). Season: November. 



General Range. — Of widest distribution; southern oceans, north in the Atlantic 

 to the Faroe Islands and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and in the Pacific to southern 

 Alaska and the Kurile Islands. Breeds at least on islands of the New Zealand seas. 



Occurrence in California. — Common upon ocean at all seasons, sometimes of 

 incredible abundance as migrant and forager at varying distances from shore up to 

 50 miles. Period of maximum abundance May-November. Occasionally passes 

 close inshore or visits bays and harbors: Santa Barbara, Sept. 10, 1913, etc.; Pizmo, 

 June 25, 1914; San Francisco Bay, various occurrences. 



Authorities. — Cooper (Nectris fulignosus), Proc. Calif, Acad. Sci., vol. iv., 

 1870, p. 79 (San Nicholas Id.); Loomis, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., ser. 2, vi., 1896, p. 27 

 (occurrence at Monterey); ibid., ser. 4, vol. ii., pt. 2, no. 12, 1918, p. 132 (syst. ; crit.). 



DID YOU EVER see a million birds at once? Our fathers did in 

 the days of the Passenger Pigeon, but that species is extinct now. We 



2001 



