NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 135 



C. A. Genus Majaqueus placed among the Puffinerc ; Pterodroma and Pa- 

 godroma among the jEstrelateas. 0. R. These three genera placed among the 

 Fulmarem. 



C. A. Priocella Garnofii, H. and J. (= Thalassoica glacialoides according 

 to Gray) not recognized. C. R. Given as a valid genus and species of Ful- 

 marem. 



C. A. Proc. meridionalis Lawr. considered as a synonym of ^Estrelata dia- 

 bolic i. C. R. Given as a valid species of genus Fulmarus. 



C. A. Genus Adamastor founded and considered as a component of the 

 Fulmarem, with ti/pus Bp. (cinerea Gm.) sericeus Less, aud flavirostris Gould, 

 as its species. C. R. Genus Adamastor abandoned, and its three species dis- 

 tributed thus : tijpus (here called cinerea Gm.) is put under Prioflnus,* 

 among the Puffins ; flavirostris and sericeus (the latter queried as to validity) 

 are put under JEstrelata of the " Rhantisteo3. ,, 



C. A. Genus Cookilaria established with leucoptera Gould, velo.r Soland., 

 solandri Gould, and mollis Gould, as its species. C. R. Cookilaria abandoned. 

 Rhantistes ex Kaupf taken, with Coolcii Gray, velox Sol. mollis, "unicolor,'" 

 " raolensis " Gould, and Lessoni Garnot as determined species ; rostrata, par- 

 virostris Peale, gelida Gm. and sandaliata Sol. as doubtful species. 



C. A. Genus JEstrelata contains diabolica L'Herm. (syn. haesitata Temm. 

 Kuhl,) desnlata Gm. inexpectata Forst. (=mollis Gould) and leucocephala 

 Forst. (Lessoni Garnot.) C. R. The same genus is made to contain diabolica 

 L'Herm. hcesitata Temm. (here considered distinct from diabolica,) sericea 

 Less, flavirostris Gould, desolata Lath. ; with gularis and brevipes Peale, and 

 inexpectata Forst. as doubtful species. 



C. A. Genus Nectris Bp. emend, ex Forst. contains brevicauda Brandt, car- 

 neipes Gould, fuliginosus Strickl. gama Bp. and tenuirostris Temm. C. R. 

 Nectris abandoned, and its species thus distributed : brevicaudu? and carneipes 

 are put with cincrevs Gm. under Prioflnus H. & J. ; fuliginosa Strickl. is 

 made a queried synonym of Puffinus major Faber ; gama Bp. does not appear: 

 while tenuirostris is united with sphenurus, etc., under thegen'is Thiellus. 



However great the changes and innovations thus introduced, which are 

 indeed " une foule des faits nouveaux relatifs a la classification, a la nomen- 

 clature, a la synonymie. et aux divers rapports des espcces," resulting " de 

 leur etude appiofondie "J between Dec. 1855 and April 1856, I am unwilling 

 to believe that the " Table" is drawn up with reference to the size and shape 

 of the Comptes Rendus page, rather than in accordance with truth. 



The numerous difficulties which beset us in the critical investigation cf any 

 group of the Petrels, reach their maximum in the section now under considera- 

 tion. This is in a measure due to the habitat of most of the species the 

 genera being essentially South Pacific and Antarctic in their distribution which 

 renders the acquisition of specimens difficult, at least in such numbers as to 

 enable extended comparisons to be instituted, and the great changes of plu- 

 mage which a majority of the species undergo with increasing age, to be fully 

 and accurately elucidated. Some are to this day known only by type speci- 

 mens ; while of many others we are no more familiar regarding variable 

 features of coloration, than to enable us to speak in the most general terms of 

 the changes undergone during progress towards maturity. But these are 

 among the minor evils to be contended with ; for Nature herself is perhaps 

 never so difficult of comprehension, as we often find our attempts to under- 

 stand her to be. And so the confounding of distinct species under one name 

 and description ; the making of nominal ones out of changes of plumage and 

 variations in size ; together with the misinterpretation by writers of the labors 



*Tliis is an important correction. ' Prioflnus cinereus" is the proper name of the species called 

 in the C. A. "Adamastor ti/pus." 

 t This name of Kaup's is a synonym of Fulmarus Leach. 

 t Bp. C. K. April 23, 1856, p. 707. 



1866.] 



