34 
FULMARS AND SHEARWATERS 
GENUS OSSIFRAGA. 
[86.] Ossifraga gigantea (GW.)- Giant Fulmar. 
Nasal tubes occupying more than half the length of bill; tail feathers 
16; size of a large goose. Light phase: 
sometimes almost entirely white, but gen¬ 
erally with head, neck, and under parts 
white, and upper parts dusky ; bill light 
yellowish. Dark phase: uniform sooty 
brown, sometimes whitish around base of 
bill; bill olive yellowish or grayish. 
Length: 30-36, wing 17-21, bill 3.50-4.00, 
extent of wings 72-84. 
Distribution. — Southern seas, casually north to coast of Oregon. 
GENUS FULMARUS. 
Subgenus Fulmarus. 
KEY TO SPECIES. 
1. Upper parts plain gray or dusky. glupischa, p. 34. 
1. Upper parts gray, marked with white.rodgersi, p. 34. 
86b. Fulmarus glaeialis glupischa Stejn. Pacific Fulmar. 
Bill short and stout, wider than deep at base, nasal tubes occupying 
about half the length of bill and opening as one tube ; nasal tubes and 
tip of bill yellow. Light phase: head, neck, and under parts white ; 
upper parts bluish gray, with quills darker. Dark phase: whole plumage 
deep plumbeous. Length: 17-19, wing 11.90-12.35, bill 1.35-1.65. 
Distribution. — North Pacific, south along the American coast to Mexico. 
Nest. — On high cliffs and promontories. Eggs : white. 
Mr. Loomis states that when an ‘ oil slick ’ appeared on the Mon¬ 
terey Bay at one time, he counted over a hundred Pacific fulmars 
and several Rodgers fulmars scattered in groups apparently feeding 
on a slimy substance floating on the surface of the oil. 
86.1. Fulmarus rodgersi Cass. Rodgers Fulmar. 
Similar to the light phase of glupischa , but bluish gray of upper parts 
broken by mixture of white. No dark phase known. Wing: 12.10-12.90, 
bill 1.40-1.60, depth of bill at base .65-.75. 
Distribution. — North Pacific from Bering Sea south to Monterey Bay. 
Egg. — Soiled white, laid on the bare rock. 
GENUS PRIOCELLA. 
87. Priocella glacialoides (Smith). Slender-billed Fulmar. 
Bill slender, deeper than wide at base ; nasal tubes not reaching middle 
of bill; nasal tubes and tip of bill black. Adults: 
head, neck, and under parts whitish or light gray; 
back and wings light pearl gray, the quills darker, 
with inner webs mainly white. Length : 18.00-18.50 
wing 13, bill 1.75-2.10, depth of bill at base .65. 
Distribution. — Southern seas, north along Pacific 
Fig. 57. coast to Vancouver Island. 
