a half the length of the tail; the first quill feathers the longest. Tail rounded,
the two centre feathers about an inch longer than the outermost one of
each side.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length from the point of the bill to
the tip of the tail............... 17 0
of the bill from the gape....... 1 9
of the wings when folded....... 13 9
of the tail................... 6 0
Inches. Lines.
Length of the tarsus............................ 1 6
of the outer toe .................... 1 11
of the middle to e .................... 1 11
of the inner toe........................ 1 7
of the hinder toe .................... 0 . .3
Nothing is known of the colours of the other sex.
This is a rare bird on the Cape Seas ; therefore it is probable the favourite h a b ita t of the
species is farther to the southward. While on the wing it keeps near to the surface of the water
like P ro c e lla r ia T u r tu r , &c.
When I first examined the specimen which has afforded the foregoing description, I was
disposed to regard it as an example of P ro c e lla r ia grisea, Gmel., but on further examination,
such doubts arose as led me to resolve on considering it distinct. The published
descriptions of most of the species of the group are so vague and deficient in diagnostic characters,
that it will be found necessary, for the good of science, that almost all of them be unceremoniously
rejected, unless the originals which supplied the descriptions should be re-described.
Colours are not calculated to furnish good diagnostic characters in this group; these must be
drawn from the form of the bill, &c., and from the measurements of the different parts of the
bird. The following appear to be well authenticated species, and the published descriptions
are sufficiently precise to enable the naturalist to refer any bird which he possesses belonging
to them to its proper species.
P ro c e lla r ia g ig a n tea , Lin.
cequinoctialis, Lin.
Caperisis, Lin.
p u ffin u s e t cinerea, Lin.
glacialis, Lin.
glacialoides, Smith
macroptera, Smith
An g lo rum, Temm.
T u r tu r , Forst.
F o r s te n , Smith
obscur a, Gmel.
Cape, and Southern Seas.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Northern Seas.
Cape, and Southern Seas.
Do.
British Seas.
Cape, and Southern Seas.
Do.
Northern Seas.
h a s ita ta , Temm. PI. col. 416. Indian Seas.
B u lw e r i, Jardine and Selby Indian Seas.