368 
Synopsis of the Birds 
Inhabits throughout the Atlantic Ocean : not rare on the 
banks of Newfoundland, and in the northern British islands, 
68. PROCELL ARIA . 
Procellaria , L. Gm. Lath . Briss. Ill . Cuv. Vieill. Ranz. 
Procellaria, Boie . (as restricted.) Petrel propr. dit , Temm. 
Bill as long as the head, robust, broad, hard, sub-cylin- 
drical, depressed at base, compressed and suddenly swelled 
towards the point, edges sharp : upper mandible deeply 
seamed each side, strongly hooked and acute at tip ; lower 
shorter, narrower, ascending, angular beneath, truncated 
at tip, with the end very distinct: nostrils united in a com- 
mon tube on the top of the bill : tongue moderate, entire, 
conic. Head large, somewhat rounded above ; eyes rather 
large ; neck short, thick : body rounded, plump. Feet 
stout, moderate ; naked space of the tibia much restricted ; 
tarsus shorter than the middle toe ; toes very long ; middle 
one subequal to the outer; inner shortest; the lateral edged 
exteriorly by a narrow membrane; webs full, entire, large; 
hind toe merely a thick and obtuse nail : nails large, curved, 
compressed, acute, channelled beneath, middle one largest, 
dilated internally into a sharp edge. Wings very long, 
acute; quills numerous ; first primary longest. Tail of four- 
teen feathers, rounded or cuneiform. 
Female similar to the male. Young differing but little 
from the adult. Moult twice a year without changing their 
colors. Species large. Prevailing color white. 
Diurnal. Keep generally far at sea among rocks and ice- 
bergs, seldom approaching the shore. Venturing farther 
than any other bird, regardless of heavy seas and gales: 
most active and numerous when a storm is approaching. 
Fly, rest, and even walk on the waves. Flight with the wings 
expanded, motionless. Feed on fishes, the flesh of dead ceta- 
cea, mollusca, and other marine animals, and even vegeta- 
bles. Breed in great companies in the clefts of Arctic rocks. 
