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, 181/2; wing, 13; tail, 5; bill, 21/12.
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.