TOWNSEND AND ALLEN: LABRADOR BIRDS. 
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retreated southward, is that of Audubon (’ 38 , p. 175) who says: “It 
is to be supposed that it is not met with beyond the western shores 
of Labrador, where, however, I found it in abundance and breeding, 
in the beginning of June, 1833,” and he obtained specimens. 
Fulmarus glacialis (Linn.). 
Fulmar. 
Common visitor. 
Fulmars are very abundant along the north and east coasts of 
Labrador at times. They are usually met with off the Straits of Belle 
Isle, northward, in summer, and according to Audubon are “regularly 
observed in spring moving northward in files” opposite the entrance 
of these Straits. They appear to enter the Straits rarely, if at all, but 
keep out to sea, and approach land during storms only. In our voy¬ 
age along the east coast, we observed them but once, when on July 
19th, during a violent northeast storm, a few came about the vessel 
off Cape Harrison. In all about eight birds were seen, of which but 
two were in the light phase. The species is not known to breed in 
Labrador. 
Puffinus gravis (O’Reilly). 
Greater Shearwater; “Hag”; “Hagdon.” 
Abundant summer visitor. 
This bird, breeding in the Antarctic summer, avoids winter alto¬ 
gether by spending the non-breeding season in the summer of the 
northern seas. It is found at sea off the southern and eastern coasts 
of Labrador, rarely approaching very close to land except in storms 
and fog. In one of the frequent storms of this coast we were so 
fortunate as to run into a great flock of these birds on July loth not 
far from Spear Harbor. As we steamed along we first passed single 
birds, then groups of from 50 to 300, and later great flocks of 1000. 
It was impossible to count them but we roughly estimated from five 
to ten thousand shearwaters. Among them were only three Sooty 
Shearwaters. It was a rare sight and had a fitting setting in a 
background of rough and broken granitic rocks, a stormy sea, and 
scudding drifts of fog. With outstretched and almost motionless wings 
slightly decurved, the shearwaters glided over the waves, following 
them so closely, that we momentarily expected to see the birds 
disappear in the foam. Again they swing about in graceful curves, 
