Page:The birds of America, volume 7.djvu/301

Rh I preserved the skins of the four specimens procured. One of them I sent to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, by Captain John R. Butler, of the ship Thalia, then bound from Havana to Minorca.

Two others were presented to my excellent friend Dr. Traill, on my first becoming acquainted with him at Liverpool.

I found, the wings of this species strong and muscular for its size, this structure being essentially requisite for birds that traverse such large expanses of water, and are liable to be overtaken by heavy squalls. The stomach resembles a leather purse, four inches in length, and was much distended with fishes of various kinds, partially digested or entire. The oesophagus is capable of being greatly expanded. Some of the fishes were two and a half inches in length, and one in depth. The flesh of this Petrel was fat, but tough, with a strong smell, and unfit for food; for, on tasting it, as is my practice, I found it to resemble that of the porpoises. No difference is per- ceptible in the sexes.

While on board the United States revenue cutter Marion, and in the waters of the Gulf Stream opposite Cape Florida, I saw a flock of these birds, which, on our sailing among them, would scarcely swim off from our bows, they being apparently gorged with food. As we were running at the rate of about ten knots, we procured none of them. I have also seen this species off Sandy Hook.

Pcffincs obscurds, Bonap. Syn., p. 371.

Dosky Petrel, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 337.

Dcsky Petrel, Puffinus obscurus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 620. Male, 11, 26.

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

Adult Male.

Bill about the length of the head, straight, somewhat cylindrical, the tips curved. Nostrils tubular, separate, inclosed in a horny sheath, and dorsal, the outline straight, curved on the unguis, the sides nearly erect, convex, the edges sharp, hard, and inflected, the tip decurved, strong. Lower mandible straight, the angle very narrow and extending nearly to the tip, the dorsal line beyond it decurved, the sides convex and inclining inwards, the edges sharp and inflected.

Head of moderate size. Neck of ordinary length; body ovate. Feet stout; tibia bare a .short way above the joint; tarsus of moderate length, rather stout, reticulate; hind toe a very slight knob, with a small conical claw; fore toes long, slender, connected by reticulated webs with concave Vol. VII. 32