Page:The birds of America, volume 7.djvu/279

Rh which are inclinate and sharp, the tip compressed, the dorsal outline ascend- ing and extremely sharp, the edges at the end suddenly decurved.

Head rather large, ovate; neck rather long; body full. Legs short, rather stout; tibia bare for an inch and a quarter; tarsus a little compressed, covered with angular scales, of which the posterior are much smaller. Hind toe elevated, its first phalanx scarcely apparent, its claw large, somewhat conical, obtuse, flattened beneath; the fore toes long, slender, scutellate above, connected by striated entire webs; the fourth toe slightly shorter than the third, including the claws, but otherwise longer; the second toe not much shorter. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, rather acute, that of the third toe with an inner thin edge.

Plumage full, close, elastic; on the back and wings the feathers rather distinct. Wings very long, narrow; primary quills broad, tapering to an obtuse point, the first longest, the rest rapidly graduated; secondary quills broad and rounded. Tail short, much rounded, of sixteen broad, rounded feathers, of which the lateral are an inch and a half shorter than the middle. Bill and feet yellow. The general colour of the plumage is a deep dingy grey or blackish-grey, of a tint similar to that of the young of Procellaria glacialis and P. pacifica, but much deeper. It is considerably lighter on the lower parts, and especially on the lower surface of the wings.

Length to end of tail 36 inches; bill along the ridge 4, along the edge of lower mandible 3^; length of nasal case 1|§; wing from flexure Iff; tail 7j; tarsus 3^; first toe T V, its claw T y, second toe 3^-, its claw -f^; third toe 4 T 5 2, its claw 4t; fourth toe 4%, its claw jj-