PROCELLARIA MACROPTERA.—S m it h .
A ves.— P late LII.
P. obscure rubro-brunnea; rostro nigro; pedibus brunneis.
Longithdo ab apice rostri ad basin caudse 11 unc. 6 lin.; caudse 6 unc.
C olour.— The whole plumage intermediate between brownish red and
liver-brown; several of the scapulars and interscapulars narrowly tipped with
yellowish brown. The feathers of the head, neck, and body silvery white
towards their base, with a satin lustre. Bill rich black. Tarsi, toes, and
interdigital membranes liver-brown, the two first tinted with lake-red.
F orm, &c.— Figure moderately stout, and not quite so rounded as that of
the last species. Head of moderate size, and slightly tapering towards the
vertex ; bill robust, and strongly compressed, particularly towards the point,
the sides of the upper mandible slightly convex, and distinctly separated on
each side from the culmen, by a deep longitudinal groove, which commences
at the anterior extremity of the nasal tube, and terminates at the commissure
about opposite to the point where the edge of the lower mandible begins to curve
downwards. The hook of the upper mandible forms fully half the length of
the bill, its base being within a small distance of the termination of the nasal
tube ; it is much curved, and its point descends considerably below the lower
mandible ; posteriorly its upper edge projects above the level of the nasal
tube; the latter is rounded superiorly, or somewhat bluntly carinated, and
anteriorly presents only a single opening. The lower mandible is marked on
each side with a distinct longitudinal groove, which commences at its base,
and terminates where the cutting edge begins to curve downwards; the
point of the mandible is acute, and slightly prolonged. Tarsi moderately
robust, and covered with small, flat, irregular shaped scales ; toes rather slender;
interdigitalmembraneslarge, and their anterior edges superiorly delicately
plaited. Claws slightly curved and pointed ; a slender somewhat cylindrical
claw in the place of the hinder toe. Wings long, and exceed by an inch and