PRO CELLARING. PUFFINUS. 
261 
colour^ becoming of a deeper tint when kept. I have observed 
great differences in the size, form, and colour of the bill in 
this species. 
Fulmar. Fulmar Petrel. Mallemoke. 
Procellaria glacialis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 562.- — Procellaria 
glacialis, Lath. Ind. Ornith. ii. 823. — Procellaria glacialis, 
Temm. Man. d’Ornith. ii. 802. — Procellaria glacialis. North- 
ern Fulmar, MacGillivray, Brit. Birds, v. 
GENUS CLYI. PUFFINUS. SHEARWATER, 
The Shearwaters are birds of moderate or rather small 
size, intermediate in form between the Fulmars and Petrels, 
and resembling both in their habits. Their body is mode- 
rately full ; the neck rather short : the head rather large, 
and oblong. Bill of about the length of the head, rather 
slender, much compressed toward the end, slightly recurved, 
with the tips decurved ; upper mandible with the dorsal line 
nearly straight, abrupt at the nostrils, which are dorsal, each 
covered with a lateral convex plate, sides convex, edges 
sharp, tip strong, much compressed, decurved, acute ; lower 
mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the dorsal 
line decurved, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip decurved 
and acute. Feet rather large, placed far back; tibia bare 
below ; tarsus moderate, compressed, reticulated ; hind toe 
rudimentary or obsolete, but with a small conical deflected 
claw ; anterior toes long, slender, with full webs ; outer 
toe slightly longer ; claws arched, compressed, acute. Plu- 
mage full, close, blended, on the upper parts rather compact; 
wings very long, narrow, pointed ; tail moderate, graduated 
or rounded, of twelve feathers. 
The Shearwaters are distinguished from the Fulmars by 
their much more slender and compressed bill, of which both 
points are decurved, and by their more compressed tarsi. 
They are oceanic birds, of wandering habits, having a rapid 
gliding flight, and somewhat nocturnal, like the Petrels. 
Their food consists of animal substances of various kinds, 
and is picked up from the water, generally while the bird 
is hovering. They and the Petrels exhibit in the highest 
degree the habit, common to them and Mews and Gulls, of 
letting down their feet while hovering, and patting the wa- 
