The Bird Book Part 10

86b. PACIFIC FULMAR. _Fulmarus glacialis glupischa._

This sub-species of the preceding, has a darker mantle than the common Fulmar; it is found on the northern Pacific coasts where it breeds on the high rocky cliffs, the same as its eastern relative. They nest in large colonies, every crevice in the rocks having its tenant. Their flight is graceful like that of the Gulls, which they closely resemble.

They lay but a single white egg, the average dimensions of which are slightly smaller than those of the common Fulmar. Data.--Copper Is., Alaska. May 14, 1889. Egg laid in a crevice among the cliffs.

86.1. RODGER'S FULMAR. _Fulmarus rodgers._

Range.--North Pacific, breeding in large numbers on some of the islands in Bering Sea; south to California in winter. Very similar to the two preceding species except that the back is mixed with whitish, it is not believed to have a dark phase. Their breeding habits and eggs do not differ from the common Fulmar. The eggs are laid on the rocky cliffs during June.

87. SLENDER-BILLED FULMAR. _Priocella glacialoides._

Range.--Southern seas, appearing on the Pacific coast of the United States in the summer. This species has a paler mantle than the others of the family, and the primaries are black. The make-up and plumage of the whole bird is more like that of the Gulls than any of the others. They probably breed in the far south during our winter, although we have no definite data relative to their nesting habits.

[Ill.u.s.tration 065: Pacific Fulmar. Slender-billed Fulmar.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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88. CORY'S SHEARWATER. _Puffinus borealis._

This species probably breeds in the far south. It has been found only off the coast of Ma.s.sachusetts and Long Island. This is the largest of our Shearwaters, and can be distinguished from the next species by its wholly white underparts, its light mantle and yellowish bill. We have no data relative to its nesting habits.

89. GREATER SHEARWATER. _Puffinus gravis._

Range.--The whole of the Atlantic Ocean.

Thousands of them spend the latter part of the summer off the New England coast, where they are known to the fishermen as Haglets. Their upper parts are brownish gray, darker on the wings; bill and feet dark; underparts white, with the middle of the belly and the under tail covers dusky. Length about 20 inches. Little is known concerning their nesting quarters, although they are said to breed in Greenland. From the fact of their early appearance off the New England coast it is probable that the greater part of them nest in the far south.

90. MANX SHEARWATER. _Puffinus puffinus._

This species inhabits the North Atlantic ocean chiefly on the European side, being abundant in the Mediterranean and in the British Isles.

These birds deposit their single pure white eggs in crevices among the cliffs, on the ground or in burrows dug by themselves. Size of egg 2.35 1.60. Data.--Isle of Hay, North Scotland. June 1, 1893. Single egg laid at the end of a three foot burrow.

[Ill.u.s.tration 066: Cory Shearwater. Greater Shearwater.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Egg of Audubon's Shearwater--White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Audubon's Shearwater.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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91. PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER. _Puffinus creatopus._

Range.--Pacific Ocean, north on American side to California in summer.

This species, whose breeding habits are little known, is similar in size and color to the Greater Shearwater, differing chiefly in the yellowish bill and pinkish colored feet.

92. AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER. _Puffinus lherminieri._

Range.--Middle Atlantic, ranging north in late summer to Long Island.

This bird, having a length of but twelve inches, is the smallest of the Shearwaters found along our coasts. Large colonies of them breed on some of the small islands and keys of the West Indies and Bahamas, and not so commonly in the Bermudas. Their eggs, which are pure white, are deposited at the end of burrows dug by the birds. Size of egg 2.00 1.35. Their nesting season commences about the latter part of March and continues through April and May. After the young are able to fly, like other members of the family, the birds become ocean wanderers and stray north to southern New England. Data.--Bahamas, April 13, 1891. Single egg laid at the end of a burrow about two feet in length. Collector, D.

P. Ingraham.

92.1. ALLIED SHEARWATER. _Puffinus a.s.similis._

This is an Australian and New Zealand species that has accidentally strayed to the sh.o.r.es of Nova Scotia.

93. BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER. _Puffinus opisthomelas._

Range.--Middle Pacific coast of the Americas, north in late summer along the coast of California. This species breeds commonly on the islands off the coast of Lower California, especially on the Gulf side. Their single egg is white, size 2.00 1.30, and is located at the end of a burrow.

Data.--Natividad Is., Lower California, April 10, 1897. Single egg laid on the sand at the end of a burrow six feet in length. Collector, A. W.

Anthony.

93.1. TOWNSEND'S SHEARWATER. _Puffinus auricularis._

This bird ranges from Cape St. Lucas, south along the Pacific coast of Mexico, breeding on the Revillagigedo Islands off the Mexican coast.

[Ill.u.s.tration 067: Pink-footed Shearwater. Black-vented Shearwater.

Townsend's Shearwater.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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94. SOOTY SHEARWATER. _Puffins fuliginosus._

Range.--A common species off the Atlantic coast in summer; breeds along our northern coasts, and it is also supposed that many of them nest in southern seas and reach our coasts early in the summer. These Shearwaters are entirely sooty gray, being somewhat lighter below. They are called "black haglets" by the fishermen, whose vessels they follow in the hope of procuring bits of refuse. They commonly nest in burrows in the ground, but are also said to build in fissures among the ledges.

Their single white egg measures 2.55 1.75. Data.--Island in Ungava Bay, northern Labrador, June 14, 1896. Egg laid in a fissure of a sea cliff. Collector, A. N. McFord.

95. DARK-BODIED SHEARWATER. _Puffinus griseus._

This is a southern species which, after having nested on islands in the far south during our winter, comes north and appears off the Pacific coast of the United States during the summer. It is a similar bird to the Sooty Shearwater, but is considerably darker and the under coverts are whitish. Their nesting habits are the same as those of other members of the family. Size of egg, 2.40 1.65. Data.--Stewart's Island, New Zealand, February 15, 1896. Single egg at the end of a long burrow.

96. SLENDER-BILLED SHEARWATER. _Puffinus tenuirostris._

Range.--Northern Pacific Ocean in the summer, extending from j.a.pan and Alaska southward. Supposed to breed in the southern hemisphere, as well as probably on some of the Aleutians in Alaska.

96.1. WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER. _Puffinus cuneatus._