FULMAR PETREL. 
489 
es. Color. Adult. Above, dark slaty-blue. White beneath to breast, then gradually becomingdusky until the under 
tail coverts are as dark as back. Sides of head and neck all around, pale yellow. Shaftsof primaries, brown, exceptnig the 
first two which are white. Iris, brown, bill, greenish, and feet, black. Young, smoky-brown throughout, mottled with 
ashy, and the central tail feathers only project slightly. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Known by the long central tail feathers, which are acuminate even in the young, small size, and white shafts to two 
outer primaries. Distributed, in summer, throughout theArctic Regions, wandering as far south as Massachusetts in win¬ 
ter. Dimensions. Length, 20H10; stretch, 40‘00; wing, 12*00; tail, 12 00; bill, 1*15; tarsus, L’55. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Eggs , placed on the ground, two or three in number, rather pointed oval in form, deep yellowish-brown in color, spot¬ 
ted, blotched, and lined with reddish-brown and umber of varying shades. Dimensions from l*50x2‘15 to 156x2'25. 
HABITS. 
Buffon’s Skua is by far the rarest of the three species of the genus, which are of reg¬ 
ular occurrence with us, as it appears to spend the greater portion of its time far out to sea. 
On account of the peculiar, long tail, this species is called Whip-tail by sailors. 
FAMILY II. PRO CELL ARIDiE. THE PETRELS. 
Bill , generally shorter than head and strongly curved at tip. Nostrils , tubular. Hind 
toe , present or absent. Marginal indentations , four or absent. Keel , usually perforated. 
Primaries , long and secondaries , short. 
Members of this family are closely feathered, fly remarkably well, and possess the pow¬ 
er of swimming, but do not move with ease upon the ground. The bill is made up of sev¬ 
eral parts. The young are covered with down at birth, but are helpless and are fed by the 
parents until able to fly. 
GENUS I. PROCELLARIA. THE FULMARS. 
Gen. Ch. Bill, strong, rather short, and somewhat compressed near tip. Tarsus , short and strong. Toes, fully webbed 
and with a spur in place of the hind toe. Tail, rounded. Members of this genus are generally large and of varying color. 
There are two species within our limits. 
PROCELLARIA GLACIALIS. 
Fulmar Petrel. 
Procellariaglacialis Linn., Syst. Nat., I; 1766, 213. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Cii. Form, robust. Size, medium. Color. Adult. Back and wings, pale bluish-ash, becoming brownish on 
primaries. Remainder of plumage, white, strongly tinged with ashy on tail. Iris, bill, and feet, yellow. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Easily recognized by the pure white head. Occurs in the Northern Atlantic. Dimensions. Length, 19'95; stretch, 
32 00; wing, 13 00; tail, 4’25; bill, 1 '85; tarsus, 2’00. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Eggs, placed in holes of rocky cliffs, one in number, elliptical in form, pure white in color, with the shell very brittle 
Dimensions from 2'00x2'75 to2’05x2‘80. 
HABITS. 
The Fulmar Petrels are found far out to sea, often accompanying whaling ships, for 
they are fond of feeding upon blubber. They breed in holes of rocky cliffs, in the far North, 
and the young are at first fed by regurgitation, upon oil, with which the stomachs of the 
adults are so filled, that they vomit it upon the slightest provocation, and thus are extreme¬ 
ly disagreeable birds to handle. 
PROCELLARIA HiESITATA. 
Black-capped Fulmar. 
Procellaria hcesitata Kuiil. Mon. Proc. Beit. Zool.; 1820, 142. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Cii. Form, slender. Size, small. Color. Adult.. Back, wings, terminal half of tail, a few of its upper coverts. 
