186 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



Some malapplications of the name of this species to culminata Gould, are 

 noticed under the head of the latter. I quote the names "profuga Banks" and 

 i{ presaga Brandt " respectively on the authority of Mr. Gray and Mr. Lawrence, 

 not having an opportunity of verifying these references. 



DlOMEDEA OLIVACEIROSTRIS Gould. 



Diomedea nlivaceorhyncha, Gould, Ann. Mag. N. II. 1844, xiii. p. 361. Id Introd. 



B. Aust., p. 115. 

 Diomedea olivaceirostris. Bonaparte, C. A. 1855, p. 185, correcting a hybrid name. 



This species is based upon a bill only, which was in possession of Sir Win. 

 Jardine, and supposed to come from the China seas. Mr. Gould states that it 

 " is three iuches and three-eighths long from the gape to the tip, of a uniform 

 olive green, and in form more slender and elegant tlun that of the other mem- 

 bers of the genus," which comprises the sum total of our knowledge concern- 

 ing the species. 



Phosbetria fcliginosa (Gm.) Reich. 

 Diomedea fuliginosa, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. pt. ii. p. 568. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 



1790, p. 791. Temminck. PI. Col. 469. And of anthors generally. 

 Diomedea (Phcebetria) fuliginosa, Bonap. Consp. Av., ii. 1855, p. 

 Diomedea spadicea, Lesson, Man. ii. 1828, p. 391 ; description. Not of Lath. 

 Diomedea palpebrata, Forster, " ic. ined. No. 102." Id. Ed. Licht, 1844. p. 

 Diomedea a.ntarctica, Banks, " ic. ined. No. 26." 

 Diomedea fusca of Audubon's works. 



Habitat. Southern oceans at large. 



The bill of this species is remarkable in its extreme compression; its basal 

 outline ; and the presence of a sulcus on the lower mandible. 



The feathers retreat rapidly, with a gentle curve, from their point of great- 

 est development on the commissural edge of the upper mandible to form an ex- 

 ceedingly acute reentrant angle on the forehead. Those on the side of the lower 

 mandible extend in an exceedingly acute salient angle, to a point much beyond 

 the termination of the nostrils ; their upper outline a trifle oblique to the com- 

 missural edge of the lower mandible ; their under more decidedly oblique to 

 the outline of the inferior mandibular rami. 



The culminicoru is much compressed, with but slightly convex sides, and 

 a decidedly carinated ridge. The dorsal outline forms a gentle and continu- 

 ous curve from the very feathers to the base of the unguis. The latter hardly 

 rises above the level of the culmen proper: is rather the reverse of robust ; 

 its top moderately decurved, and only slightly'overhanging the lower. The 

 curve of the superior lateral sulcus is intermediate between exulans and 

 brachyura. The commissure forms a gentle and continuous curve from the 

 base of the unguis. 



The commissural edge of the under mandible corresponds to that of the 

 upper. The dorsal outline of the rami is perfectly straight. The inferior 

 unguicorn is convex and protuberant, but extends only a short distance into 

 the mental space. 



The median longitudinal lateral sulcus of the lower mandible terminates 

 abruptly at the unguis. Basally it divaricates to receive the salient feathers ; 

 the upper cms being the best marked, and forming the real continuation of 

 the sulcus. This groove is sometimes concolor with the bill ; more often it 

 is brightly colored, being yellow or pinkish. 



The nostrils are peculiar in their very small calibre, perhaps less than that 

 of any other species. They are almost buried between the culminal and late- 

 ral elements of the bill, the two meeting posterior to the nares. The orifice 

 is subcircular, presenting forwards and upwards with no lateral aspect. 



The graduation of the lateral rectrices is enhanced in producing a cuneate 

 tail, by the elongation of the median pair which project beyond the next 

 ones, and are narrowly accuminate. The tips of the lateral feathers are 

 rounded. 



[May, 



