Family XLIII. PROCELLARINAE. FULMARS. GENUS III. PROCELLARIA, Linn. FULMAR. |
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Family |
SLENDER-BILLED FULMAR. [Slender-billed Shearwater.] |
Genus | PROCELLARIA TENUIROSTRIS, Aud. [Puffinus tenuirostris.] |
This species agrees in general with the last described; but its bill is
much more elongated, comparatively slender, and with the nasal case, half of the
unguis of the upper mandible, and the tip of the lower, black. The outline of
the nasal case is a little concave, and its ridge is somewhat carinate. Whether
this individual be of another species, or of the same, having an accidentally
elongated bill, cannot perhaps be determined without a series of specimens; but
it is probably a true species, as neither of the other two have the bill black
in any part or at any period. Supposing it to be distinct, I have named it the
Slender-billed Fulmar, Procellaria tenuirostris.
The following note from Mr. TOWNSEND was appended to this specimen:--
"Within a day's sail from the mouth of the Columbia river. Its habits are very
similar to those of Procellaria capensis, keeping constantly around the vessel,
and frequently alighting in her wake for the purpose of feeding. They are
easily taken with a hook baited with pork, and at times, particularly during a
gale, they are so tame as almost to allow themselves to be taken with the hand.
The stomachs of most of those that I captured were found to contain a species of
sepia and grease."
Length to end of tail 18 1/2 inches; bill along the ridge 2 1/12; nasal
case 7/12; wing from flexure 13; tail 5; tarsus 1 10/12; hind toe 1/12, its claw
3/12; outer toe 2 3/12, its claw (4 1/2)/12.
SLENDER-BILLED FULMAR, Procellaria tenuirostris, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v.p. 333
Length, 18 1/2; wing, 13; tail, 5; bill, 2 1/12.
Off the Columbia river. Common.
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