PEOCELLABIIDjE — PEOCELLABIIN^ : SHEARWATERS. 785 
832. P. ma jor. (Lat. major, greater.) Greater Shearwater. Wandering Shearwater. 
Common Atlantic Shearwater. Bill scarcely shorter than head or tarsus, stout and sub- 
cylindrical at base, then more and more compressed to the strong hook. Nasal tube straight, 
about i as long as culmen, with widely separated subelliptical openings. Culmen rising with 
slight continuous concavity from nostrils to top of the hook ; commissure a long regular curve, 
convex downward, from feathers to curve of the hook. Outline of inferior mandibular rami 
about straight. Bill about 3 times as long as high at base, not so wide as high. Wings long 
and pointed ; 1st and 2d primaries nearly equal. Tail contained about 2g- times in length of 
wing, much rounded, almost wedged. Tarsus as long as middle toe without claw j outer toe 
as long as or longer than middle, but its claw smaller, falling short of tip of middle claw ; tip 
of inner claw not reaching base of middle. Above, dark bistre-brown, on head inclining a 
little to plumbeous Or grayish -brown ; usually lighter on hind neck, darkest on tertials and 
rump ; each feather of back, rump, and wing-coverts, edged with pale brownish-ash or even 
ashy-whitish. On the head the color uniform, without these light margins, extending below 
eyes to level of the gape, with distinct line of demarcation from white of the throat. On side 
of neck the white reaches further around, and is less distinctly outlined ; further back, on sides 
of breast, the dark color encroaches on the white. The upper tail-coverts, especially the long 
posterior ones, are mostly white, with dark bars on central fields. Primaries brownish-black, 
lightening on inner webs towards base. Under parts white from chin to anus, with large dark 
brown patches on flanks ; under tail-coverts dark grayish -brown, with whitish tips; lining of 
wings white, mottled wiih. dark along the border and on ends of axillars. Tail-feathers like 
primaries. Bill dark blackish horn color ; outside of tarsus and outer toe brownish ; rest of 
feet and webs yellowish flesh-color ; iris brown. The intensity and uniformity of coloration of 
the upper parts varies much with age of the plumage. Fresh plumages are deep plumbeous- 
brown with narrow pale or whitish margins ; old worn feathers are duller brown with broader 
less distinct grayish-brown edgings. Observe line of demarcation of dark and white on head, 
neck and breast ; uniform feathers of head ; dark under and partially white upper tail-coverts. 
Audubon gives bill yellowish-green, the tips brownish-black, tinged with green ; feet light 
greenish-gray, webs and claws yellowish flesh-color." Length 18.00-20.00; extent 42.00- 
45.00; wing about 13.00; tail 5.75, graduated 1.00; tarsus 2.40; middle toe and claw 2.90 ; 
outer do. 2.75 ; inner do. 2.30 ; chord of culmen 2.00; depth of bill at base 0.65, width 0.60. 
Wanders over the whole Atlantic, Greenland to Cape Horn and Good Hope. Abundant, 
sometimes seen in flocks of thousands, shearing the crests of the waves, and skimming the bil- 
lows Avith marvellous ease, without a visible motion of the pinions. 
S33. P. crea'topus. (Gr. /cpcay, hreas, flesh, vroCs, pons, foot.) Flesh-footed Shearwater. 
Resembling the last, but quite distinct. Bill short, less than head or tarsus, turgid at base, 
where as wide as high. Nasal tubes short, hardly i the length of culmen, turgid, with slight 
median furrow and very oblique truncation. Frontal feathers running forward on median line. 
Form otherwise as in P. major. Bill pale yellowish flesh-color, the nasal tubes, culmen, and 
tip blackish. Feet flesh-colored; claws whitish with brown ends. Upper parts about the 
same shade of brown as in P. major ; upper tail-coverts entirely dark. No white on inner 
webs of primaries. On sides of head and neck, the color of the upper parts extends entirely 
around, without aaiy distinct line of demarcation, the chin and throat mottled with dark and 
white in about equal amounts. On the sides of the breast the color more restricted than on the 
neck. Lower eyelid white. Sides of body and lining of wings mottled with dusky and white 
in about equal amounts ; long axillars entirely dark except just at base. Middle of belly and 
vent region variegated with dusky and white. Under tail-coverts entirely fuliginous black. 
"Length 19.00; extent 45.00;" wing 12.50; tail 5.00, graduated 1.00; tarsus 2.10; outer 
toe and claw 2.50; middle do. 2. 65 ; inner do. 2.60; chord of culmen 1.60; gape 2.30; height 
or width of bill at base 0.60 ; nasal tubes 0.40. San Nicholas Island, Coast of Cala. ; a curious 
species of which little is known. 
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