Part 34

Ranges, during winter, along and off the coast, though always in sight of land, as far as the Gulf of Mexico. Breeds in high latitudes.

Lestris Buffonii, Bonap. Syn. p. 364.

Lestris parasitica, Arctic Jager, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 430.

Arctic Jager, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 317.

Arctic Jager, Lestris parasiticus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 470.

GENUS II. DIOMEDEA, Linn. ALBATROSS.

Bill rather longer than the head, nearly straight, stout, much compressed; upper mandible, with its dorsal line, much declinate, and nearly straight for a third of its length, then concave ascending to the unguis, on which it is arched and decurved in the third of a circle, the ridge broad, convex, rounded at the base, separated in its whole length by a groove, margined below, beyond the nostrils by a prominent line, from the sides, which are erect and slightly convex, the edges sharp, the unguis decurved, much compressed, with its sides flattened, and the tip acute; nostrils subbasal, prominent, tabular, having a horny sheath; lower mandible with the angle very narrow, reaching to the tip, and having at its extremity a long slender interposed horny process; the outline of the crura gently ascending, and quite straight, until near the end, when it is a little decurved, the sides ascending, nearly erect, a little convex, the edges sharp, the tip extremely compressed, its upper edges decurved. Head rather large, ovate; neck of moderate length; body full. Feet rather short, stoutish; tibia bare, below scaly; tarsus roundish, reticulated; toes three, long, slender, outer very little shorter than middle, scaly for half their length, then scutellate. Claws rather small, slender, slightly arched, somewhat obtuse. Plumage full, soft, blended, but rather fine, somewhat compact above. Wings very long, and very narrow, the humerus and cubitus extremely elongated; first quill longest. Tail of twelve broadly rounded feathers, short, rounded.

457. 1. Diomedea chlororhynchos, Gmel. Yellow-nosed Albatross.

Not figured.

Bill much compressed, its ridge convex in its whole length, but with its basal outline, although semicircular, only half an inch in extent, so that between its margins and those of the sides of the bill, there is behind the nostrils a space nearly a quarter of an inch in breadth; the ridge in its whole length, the tip of the upper mandible, and the crura of the lower along their inferior edge, yellow, the rest black; feet yellow; head and neck ash-grey; the fore part of the back shaded into blackish-grey; wings entirely brownish-black, shafts of primaries white, toward the end brownish-black; hind part of back, rump, and upper tail-coverts white; tail deep grey, the bases and shafts of the feathers white, loral space of a darker grey than the rest of the head, that colour deepening at the fore part of the eye, forming a spot which includes the whole of the upper eyelid, and the anterior half the lower, of which the other half is white; lower half of the neck anteriorly, breast, sides, abdomen, lower tail-coverts, some of the axillaries, and the larger wing-coverts white; the others being brownish-black.

Length, 37; wing, 21; bill, 5-1/4; tail, 8-1/4.

Pacific Ocean, not far from Columbia River.

Diomedea chlororhynchos, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 326.

458. 3. Diomedea nigripes, Aud. Black-footed Albatross.

Not figured.

Bill brownish-black, moderately compressed, its ridge very broad and convex at the base, its basal outline semicircular and two inches in extent, so that its sides behind overlap and obliterate the sutural space behind the nostrils; feet black; fore part of head, cheeks and throat light dusky-grey, the capistral feathers nearly white, as is a small patch at the posterior angle of the eye; upper part of head, hind neck, and all the upper parts, including the wings and tail, sooty-brown tinged with grey, as are the lower surface of the wings and the axillaries; lower parts dull grey, deeper on the fore parts and sides of the neck.

Length, 36; wings, 21; bill, 5; tail, 3.

Pacific Ocean, off California.

Black-footed Albatross, Diomedea nigripes, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 327.

459. 2. Diomedea fusca, Aud. Dusky Albatross.

Plate CCCCVII. Adult.

Bill black, much compressed, its ridge carinate, with its basal outline running up on the forehead into a very acute angle, lower mandible with a groove on each side in its whole length, as far as the unguis; feet yellow; head and upper part of the neck greyish-black, tinged with brown, the rest of the neck, all the lower parts, the back and rump light brownish-grey, scapulars darker, wings brownish-black, primary quills and tail-feathers greyish-black with white shafts; eyelids narrowly margined with white feathers, their anterior part excepted.

_Adult_, length, 34; wing, 21; tail, 11; bill, 4-10/12.

Off the Columbia River.

Dusky Albatross, Diomedea fusca, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 116.

GENUS III. PROCELLARIA, Linn. FULMAR.

Bill of about the length of the head, or somewhat shorter, robust, straight, moderately compressed, with the tip decurved; upper mandible with the nostrils dorsal, separated by a thin septum, covered by an elevated horny case, and opening directly forwards, the ridge nearly straight or concave in its outline, laterally sloping or convex, separated by a groove from the sides, which are erect and convex, the edges sharp, inflected, and in their outline slightly recurved from the base to the unguis, which is strong, decurved, and acute; lower mandible with the angle long, narrow, acute, the sides erect, with a groove in their whole length, the edges sharp and direct, the very short dorsal line ascending and slightly concave, the edges decurved at the end. Head rather large, ovate; neck rather short; body full. Feet of moderate length, stout; tibia bare for a short space below; tarsus a little compressed, reticulated with angular scales; hind toe a slight prominence with a conical claw; fore toes long, slender, scutellate, connected by striated even webs; fourth toe slightly shorter than third. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, rather acute. Plumage full, close, elastic, rather compact above. Wings very long, narrow, the first quill longest. Tail short, or of moderate length, of from twelve to sixteen feathers.

* Bill robust; tail of more than twelve feathers.

460. 1. Procellaria gigantea, Linn. Gigantic Fulmar.

Not figured.

Bill longer than the head, nasal plate carinate, very slightly concave above, yellow, as are the feet; tail of sixteen feathers; general colour of plumage a deep brown tinged with grey, lighter on the lower parts, and especially on the lower surface of the wings.

Length, 36; tail, 7-1/2; bill, 4.

Off the Columbia River.

Gigantic Fulmar, Procellaria gigantea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 330.

461. 2. Procellaria glacialis, Linn. Common Fulmar.

Plate CCLXIV. Male.

Bill shorter than the head, moderately compressed, with the nasal plate flattened concave above; tail slightly rounded, of fourteen feathers; bill, feet, and claws yellow; head, neck, and lower parts, pure white; back and wings light greyish-blue, the rump paler, the tail bluish-white; primary quills and coverts blackish-brown. Young in first plumage greyish-brown.

_Male_, 8, 18.

Not uncommon off the coast, from New York to Nova Scotia. Abundant on the banks of Newfoundland. Breeds in high latitudes.

Procellaria glacialis, Bonap. Syn. p. 369.

Fulmar Petrel, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 330.

Fulmar Petrel, Procellaria glacialis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 446.

462. 3. Procellaria pacifica, Aud. Pacific Fulmar.

Not figured.

Bill shorter than the head, considerably compressed, with the nasal plate carinate and almost straight; tail rounded, of fourteen feathers; bill and feet yellow; head, neck, and lower parts pure white; back and wings light greyish-blue, but most of the feathers, including those of the tail, becoming dark grey toward the end; primary quills and their coverts blackish-brown tinged with grey. Differs from P. glacialis chiefly in the form of the bill.

_Adult_, 18; wing, 12-3/4; tail, 4-3/4; bill, 1-3/4.

North west coast of America. Abundant.

Pacific Fulmar, Procellaria pacifica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 331.

463. 4. Procellaria tenuirostris, Aud. Slender-billed Fulmar.

Not figured.

Bill about the same length as the head, rather slender, much compressed, with the nasal plate somewhat carinate and concave; tail much rounded, of fourteen feathers; bill yellow, with the nasal plate, half of the unguis of the upper mandible, and the tip of the lower black; feet yellow, claws brownish-black; plumage greyish-blue, paler on the lower parts, neck, and head; primary quills and their coverts blackish-grey. Differs from the last chiefly in the form and colour of the bill.

Length, 18-1/2; wing, 13; tail, 5; bill, 2-1/12.

Off the Columbia River. Common.

Slender-billed Fulmar, Procellaria tenuirostris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 333.

GENUS IV. PUFFINUS, Briss. SHEARWATER.

Bill of the length of the head, rather slender, nearly as deep as broad at the base, much compressed toward the end, nearly straight, being slightly recurved, with the tips decurved; upper mandible with a cere at the base, extending narrow to the nostrils, which are dorsal, each covered with a lateral convex plate, and opening anteriorly, with an elliptical aperture, dorsal line as far as the nostrils nearly straight, then suddenly deflected, afterwards slightly concave, towards the end decurved, the ridge very broad and convex at the base, narrower beyond the nostrils, from which a groove runs obliquely on each side, sides convex, nearly erect, edges sharp, tip or unguis strong, decurved, much compressed, very acute; lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the dorsal line beyond it decurved, the sides sloping outwards, the edges sharp and inflected, the unguis decurved, acute. Head rather large, oblong; neck rather short; body moderate. Feet rather large; tibia bare for a short space below; tarsus of moderate length, compressed, reticulated with angular scales; hind toe obsolete, but with a small conical deflected claw; fore toes long, slender, connected by webs; outer toe slightly longer than third. Claws arched, compressed, acute. Plumage full, close, elastic, rather compact above. Wings very long, narrow, the first quill longest. Tail of moderate length, graduated, of twelve rounded feathers.

464. 1. Puffinus cinereus, Lath. Wandering Shearwater.

Plate CCLXXXIII. Male.

Bill yellowish-green, with the tips brownish-black; feet light greenish-grey, webs and claws yellowish flesh-colour; upper parts deep brown, the hind neck paler, and tinged with grey; primary quills and tail brownish-black; lower parts greyish-white, lower wing-coverts white, those next to the edge of the wing greyish-black towards the end, axillary feathers white, greyish-brown toward the end, lower tail-coverts similar.

_Male_, 20, 45.

Common off the shores, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to that of Mexico. Abundant off Nova Scotia. Ranges to a great distance at sea in autumn and winter.

Puffinus cinereus, Bonap. Syn. p. 370.

Cinereous Puffin, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 334.

Wandering Shearwater, Puffinus cinereus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 555.

465. 2. Puffinus Anglorum, Ray. Manks Shearwater.

Plate CCXCV.

Bill deep greenish-black; inner and middle of outer side of tibia dull orange, the rest greenish-black, as are the fourth toe and outer side of the third, the inner side of the latter and the whole of the second dull orange, webs pale yellow; upper parts brownish-black, lower white.

_Adult_, 15, 32.

Not uncommon off the coast of Maine during summer. Breeds on Sable Island, off Nova Scotia. Ranges, at times, to great distances seaward.

Puffinus anglorum, Bonap. Syn. p. 371.

Shearwater Petrel, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 336.

Manks Shearwater, Puffinus anglorum, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 604.

466. 3. Puffinus obscurus, Lath. Dusky Shearwater.

Plate CCXCIX. Male.

Bill light blue, the tips black; outside of tarsus and toes indigo-black, inside and webs pale yellowish flesh-colour; upper parts sooty-black, lower pure white.

_Male_, 11, 26.

Abundant during summer in the Gulf of Mexico, and off the coast eastward to Georgia. Some wander as far as Long Island.

Puffinus obscurus, Bonap. Syn. p. 371.

Dusky Petrel, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 337.

Dusky Petrel, Puffinus obscurus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 620.

GENUS V. THALASSIDROMA, Vigors. PETREL.

Bill shorter than the head, slender, as high as broad at the base, extremely compressed at the end; upper mandible with the nostrils dorsal forming a tube on its ridge at the base, on which the dorsal line is concave and ascending, then abrupt, afterwards, for a short space, straight, and lastly decurved, the sides separated by a groove, convex, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip decurved, slender, acute; lower mandible with the angle rather long, narrow, and pointed, the dorsal line beyond it decurved, the sides erect, the edges sharp, the tip decurved, acute. Head of moderate size, rounded above; neck short; body rather slender. Feet rather long, slender; tibia bare at its lower part; tarsus slender, reticulate; hind toe minute, with a conical deflected claw; anterior toes of moderate length, slender, scutellate, webbed, the third and fourth about equal. Claws slender, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage very soft and blended, the feathers distinct only on the wings, which are very long, with the primaries a little incurved toward the end, the second longest, the first and fourth about equal; tail emarginate or even, of twelve feathers. Tongue much flattened, tapering to a horny point; œsophagus wide, within the thorax enormously distended, and with the proventriculus forming an ovate sac, which is recurved; stomach very small; intestine short, of moderate width; cœca small; cloaca globular.

467. 1. Thalassidroma Leachii, Temm. Leach's Petrel.--Fork-tailed Petrel.

Plate CCLX. Male and Female.

Tail forked; bill and feet black; plumage dark greyish-brown; quills and tail brownish-black; smaller wing-coverts and inner secondaries light greyish-brown; rump, sides of abdomen, and outer lower tail-coverts white; upper tail-coverts also white, but with a terminal black band.

_Male_, 8, 18-1/2.

Common on the Banks of Newfoundland, and at times off the coast of Massachusetts, Maine, and Nova Scotia. Breeds on the shores of Baffin's Bay.

Thalassidroma Leachii, Bonap. Syn. p. 367.

Fork-tailed Stormy Petrel, Thalassidroma Leachii, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 326.

Forked-tailed Petrel, Thalassidroma Leachii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 434.

468. 2. Thalassidroma Wilsonii, Bonap. Wilson's Petrel.--Mother Carey's Chicken.

Plate CCLXX. Male and Female.

Tail even; bill and feet black, but the webs yellow, unless at the margin; plumage dark greyish-brown; quills and tail brownish-black; outer secondary wing-coverts and some of the secondary quills light greyish-brown, and tipped with white; rump, sides of abdomen, and outer lower tail-coverts, white.

_Male_, 7-1/4, 15-3/4.

Wanders from the Gulf of Mexico, off the whole Atlantic coast to Baffin's Bay, and often almost across the ocean towards Europe. Breeds in vast numbers from Maine to Baffin's Bay.

Stormy Petrel, Procellaria pelagica, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 90.

Thalassidroma Wilsonii, Bonap. Syn. p. 367.

Wilson's Stormy Petrel, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 322.

Wilson's Petrel, Thalassidroma Wilsonii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 486; v. v. p. 645.

469. 3. Thalassidroma pelagica, Linn. Least Petrel.--Mother Carey's Chicken.

Plate CCXI.

Tail slightly rounded; bill and feet black; general colour of the upper parts greyish-black, with a tinge of brown; lower parts sooty-brown; secondary coverts margined externally with dull greyish-white; feathers of rump and upper tail-coverts white, with the shafts black, the tail-coverts broadly tipped with black.

_Male_, 5-3/4, 13-1/2.

Not uncommon on the Banks of Newfoundland. Not observed to breed on the American coast.

Stormy Petrel, Thalassidroma pelagica, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 327.

Least Petrel, Thalassidroma pelagica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 310.

FAMILY XLIV. ALCINÆ. AUKS.

Bill not longer than the head, much compressed, generally very high, in the species approaching the next family rather slender. Nostrils small, linear, basal, and submarginal. Head large, broadly ovate, anteriorly narrowed; neck short and thick; body full, compact, ovate, or somewhat elongated. Feet short, rather stout, placed far behind; tibia bare for a short space; tarsus very short, compressed, anteriorly scutellate; toes three, of moderate length, scutellate, webbed. Claws strong, arched, acute. Plumage dense, blended, soft. Wings small, narrow, pointed. Tail very short. Tongue slender, trigonal; œsophagus very wide, within the thorax extremely dilated; stomach rather large, muscular, with the epithelium dense and longitudinally rugous; intestine long and wide; cœca of moderate size. Trachea simple, with a single pair of inferior laryngeal muscles. Egg generally single.

GENUS I. MORMON, Illiger. PUFFIN.

Bill about the length of the head, nearly as high as long, exceedingly compressed, at the base as high as the head, obliquely furrowed on the sides; upper mandible with a horny dotted rim along the basal margin; its dorsal line decurved from the base, the ridge narrow, at the base rounded, the sides rapidly sloped, with three or four curved oblique grooves, the edges sharp, their outline nearly straight, the tip deflected, very narrow, but obtuse; lower mandible with the angle very narrow, and so placed, that the base of the bill is inflected beyond the perpendicular, the dorsal line a little convex at first, towards the end ascending, and nearly straight, the sides perpendicular, the edges sharp; the tip very narrow, obliquely truncate; gape-line extending downwards a little beyond the base of the bill, and furnished with a soft corrugated extensile membrane. Nostrils marginal, linear, direct, in the horny part of the bill. Head large, roundish-ovate; neck short and thick; body full and rounded. Feet short, rather stout, placed far behind; tibia bare for a short space; tarsus very short, little compressed, anteriorly with a series of small scutella; toes three, connected by entire webs, the outer and middle toes nearly equal. Claws strong, of moderate length, arched, acute, that of the inner toe much curved. Plumage close, blended, soft. Wings short, narrow, curved, acute; the first quill longest; secondaries short and rounded. Tail very short, slightly rounded, of sixteen feathers.

470. 1. Mormon cirrhatus, Lath. Tufted Puffin.

Plate CCXLIX. Male.

Bill with four curved grooves on the upper mandible anterior to the nostrils, the lower smooth, a horny subcylindrical addition to the ridge at the base about an inch in length, the colour yellowish-red, the basal rim and ridge towards the end of the upper mandible bright red; feet bright red; two tufts of loose, acuminate, decurved feathers on the sides of the head behind the eye; face white; upper parts brownish-black, glossed with blue, lower sooty-brown, tinged with grey on the abdomen; part of the sides and under wing-coverts greyish-brown.

_Male_, 15, 22-1/2.

Extremely rare and accidental on the coast of the United States in winter. Common in the Arctic Seas, and on the north-west coast of America.

Alca cirrhata, Lath. Ind. Orn. v. ii. p. 791.

Mormon cirrhatus, Bonap. Syn. p. 429.

Tufted Mormon or Puffin, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 539.

Tufted Puffin, Mormon cirrhatus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 364.

471. 2. Mormon glacialis, Leach. Large-billed Puffin.

Plate CCXCIII. Male.

Bill with three curved grooves on each of the mandibles toward the end, a compressed addition to the ridge about three-quarters of an inch long, its colour, and that of the feet, orange-yellow; on the upper eyelid an oblong, tapering, horny body, directed upwards and backwards, on the lower an adherent linear body of the same nature; sides of the head, and the lower parts, white; upper part of head light brownish-grey, tinged with lilac; a broad collar extending to the lower mandible; of a dark greyish-brown tint below, gradually passing into the colour of the upper parts, which is brownish-black, glossed with blue; primary quills and their coverts blackish-brown; part of the sides and under wing-coverts greyish-brown.

_Male_, 13, 24-1/2.

Very rare, and in winter only, off the Bay of Fundy.

Mormon glacialis, Bonap. Syn. p. 430.

Large-billed Puffin, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 541.

Large-billed Puffin, Mormon glacialis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 599.

472. 3. Mormon Arcticus, Linn. Common or Arctic Puffin.

Plate CCXIII. Male and Female.

Bill with three curved grooves on both mandibles toward the end, a very slight addition to the ridge at the base only a quarter of an inch long; the basal rim and first ridge of both mandibles dull yellow, the intervening space greyish-blue, the rest bright red; on the upper eyelid a flattened triangular nearly erect horny body, and along the lower an adherent elongated body of the same nature; feet vermilion; throat and sides of the head greyish-white; upper parts of the head greyish-black, tinged with blue; the middle of the neck all round, and all the upper parts deep black, glossed with blue, the quills tinged with brown; under parts white, except the upper part of the sides, which are dusky, and the lower wing-coverts, which are brownish-grey.

_Male_, 11-3/4, 23.

Ranges southward along the coast in winter, at times as far as Georgia. Less rare from Long Island eastward, and becomes plentiful in the Bay of Fundy. Breeds in vast numbers in burrows, on the islands off Labrador.

Mormon arcticus, Bonap. Syn. p. 430.

Puffin or Coulterneb, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 542.

Puffin, Mormon arcticus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 105.

GENUS. II. ALCA, Linn. AUK.

Bill as long as the head, feathered as far as the nostrils, beyond which it is very high, exceedingly compressed, and obliquely furrowed on the sides; upper mandible with the dorsal line decurved, the ridge extremely narrow, the sides nearly flat, the nasal groove very large, and feathered, with its lower margin very narrow, and convex, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip decurved, very narrow, but obtuse; lower mandible with the angle very narrow, and having a horny triangular appendage, the sides at first extremely narrow, towards the end erect and flat, the edges inflected, the dorsal outline concave, the tip decurved. Nostrils medial marginal, linear, short, concealed by the feathers. Head large, ovate; neck short and thick; body full, rather depressed. Feet placed far behind, short, stout; tibia bare for a short space; tarsus very short, compressed, anteriorly scutellate; hind toe wanting; anterior toes of moderate length, rather slender, scutellate, webbed, the outer slightly longer than the middle. Claws rather small, arched, compressed, obtuse. Plumage close, blended, very soft. Wings very short, narrow, acute, first quill longest. Tail short, tapering, of twelve or fourteen feathers.

473. 1. Alca impennis, Linn. Great Auk.

Plate CCCXLI. Adult.