57. (ESTEELATA ATERRIMA (JBp.). 



(MASCARENE BLACK FULMAR.) 

 (Plate 47.) 



Pterodroma aterrima, Bp., Consp. Av., II., p. 191 (1855) ; id., Comptes Rend., XLIL, 



p. 768 (1856). 

 Procellaria aterrima, SchL, Mus. Pays-Bas., VI., Procell., p. 9 (1863) ; id. & Pollen, 



Faun. Madag., Ois., p. 144 (1868) ; Hartl., Vog. Madag., p. 375 (1877). 

 Mstrelata aterrima, Coues, Pr. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., 1866, pp. 158, 171. 

 (Estrelata aterrima, Salvin, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XXV., p. 401 (1896) ; Reichenow, 



Deutsche Siidpol. Exped., IX., Zool., I., p. 485 (1908). 



CE. macropterm similis, sed multo minor, et tarso (in exuvie) flavicante, minime nigro. 



This small race of CE. macroptera, distinguished by the yellowish colour of the tarsi and 

 basal half of the toes, is apparently confined to the seas around the Mascarene 

 Islands. 



It was originally described by Bonaparte from the island of Bourbon, or Reunion, 

 and specimens from this locality are in the Leyden and Paris Museums. 



The only other example that I know of, came from the St. Denys Museum, in 

 Mauritius, and was given in exchange to Professor Alfred Newton, by whom it was 

 bequeathed to the University Museum of Cambridge. 



Grandidier and Milne-Edwards believed that CE. aterrima was to be found in the 

 seas off Madagascar ; but its occurrence in West Africa, as stated by Bonaparte, must 

 be a mistake (Hartlaub, Vog. Madag., p. 375). 



In Reunion this Fulmar is known by the name of Fouquet, but, though occurring in 

 considerable numbers, it is difficult to obtain, as during the day it frequents holes and 

 crevices in the rocks, only leaving them between sunset and sunrise in search of food 

 at sea. The Creoles informed Dr. Pollen that the birds cannot see at all in the light, 

 and that the glare of a fire, placed close to the nesting-hole, will so confuse them that 

 they may be easily captured when they emerge at night-time from their retreat. 



Bonaparte, in describing the species, states that the feet are " half black and 

 white," and the bill intensely black. Schlegel speaks of the Leyden Museum specimen 



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