■ypnrg: SXRlIj3&T3nFI<iIS
PUFFINUS SPHENURUS, Gould.
Wedge-tailed Petrel.
Puffinus sphenurus, Gould in Ann. and Mag. o f Nat. Hist., vol. xiii. p. 366.
T h is species was procured by Mr. Gilbert on the Houtmann’s Abrolhos, off the western coast of Australia;
he also observed it on all the neighbouring sandy islands, but on none was it more abundant than on West
Wallaby Island, which appears to he one of its chief breeding-places, and where it burrows to a considerable
distance before depositing its single egg. As I did not observe this species in any of my voyages near
the south-eastern coast o f Australia, I conclude that it does not visit the seas washing those shores.
Its single white egg two inches and three-quarters long by one and three-quarters wide.
All the upper surface dark chocolate-brown, which gradually deepens into black on the primaries and
tail; feathers of the scapularies, which are very broad in form, washed with lighter brown at their tips ;
face and throat dark brownish grey, the remainder of the under surface greyish brown ; bill reddish fleshy
brown, darker on the culmen and tip ; legs and feet yellowish flesh-colour.
The figures are o f the natural size, the hinder representing a somewhat immature bird.