78 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



The tarsi are comparatively a little shorter than in this species, bcin j., nc 

 longer than the toe and claw. 



Color. The plumage, although agreeing with that of melania in its gem 

 characters, < f its uniformity and the want of a white ramp < r erissum, etc , 

 is yet quite different in tint, being of a deci mbeous or dull de< p blue- 



ish black, rather than the smoky brownish black oi m . Indeed the tint 

 calls faintly to mind the plumage of Jurcata. This plumbeous tint is most 

 palpable on the head and upper part of the back ; it deepens about the eye so 

 as to almost form an anteocular spot ; and on the breast gradually change? 

 to more of a fuliginous hue, which prevails over the whole abdomen and 

 under tail coverts. The color of the wings and tail is not different from that 

 which obtains with nearly all the species of the section, and there is also the 

 same dull greyish brown band along the greater coverts, and invading the 

 outer edges of most of the tertials, as well as their apices. A further character 

 of the species, wherein its coloration differs from that of melania, is found in 

 the inferior alar tectrices, and axillary feathers, many of which are wholly 

 or in part dull whitish. The feet are wholly black. 



Independently of any differences in plumage the following measurements, 

 compared with those already given of the melania, serve at once to separate 

 the two species : 



Dimensions. Length (approximately correct only) V-25 inches. Wing, 

 from the carpal joint, 5-00 or a little more. Bill, along culmen, -50 ; along 

 rictus '75 ; height at base -21 ; width -20; length of nasal tubes -24. Tarsus 

 90; middle toe and claw about the same. Tail outer feather 3-25; 

 inner 2-G0. 



Three fine specimens of this interesting species are in the Smithsonian 

 Museum, all procured at the Farallone Islands, Pacific, coast of North 

 America, i have taken No. 21,444 as the type of 7iiy species. No. 13,725, 

 received from Mr. F. Gruber, is the original of the figure of " Melania, Bp.," 

 given in the atlas of the general report. All three are quite identical in 

 every respect. 



III. HALOCYPTENA * Coues, nov. gen. 



The third genus of the group is one as yet undescribed, and which I have 

 now the pleasure of introducing to the notice of ornithologists. It differs 

 most remarkably from all other genera of the Procellariae in the possession 

 of a enneate tail. In most other respects it comes nearest to Procellaria 

 proper, with pelagiea as type; but it nevertheless differs from that genus ic 

 addition to the peculiar shape of its tail, in its exceedingly long and acute 

 wings. The fqllowing are its diagnostic characters. 



Char. Gen. Bill much shorter than the head, about half the tarsus, weak, 

 slender, compressed, the convexity of the culmen beyond the nostrils very 

 great. Nasal tubes as in other Procellariese. Wings very long, reaching 

 much beyond the tail, acutely pointed ; second primary longest, third nearly 

 equal, first about as long as the fourth. Tibice naked for a very short space. 

 Tarsus a little longer than the middle toe or claw. Outer toe without claw, 

 absolutely as long as the middle ; but its claw very short and weak. Tip of 

 inner claw reaching to the base of the middle one. Hallux exceedingly 

 minute. Webs moderately full ; their margins incised. Claws compressed, 

 curved, acute. Tail rather long, wedge-shaped ; the central rectrices pro- 

 jecting somewhat beyond the rest; the lateral all regularly graduated ; the 

 tips of all narrow, acutely rounded. Unicolor; of very small size, and ex- 

 ceedingly deli, ate form. 



The only known species of the genus is the following : 



*Ety:n. of name from Gr. a\t "ocean," Uv, "swift," Wotos ' winged;" 

 "having the power of flight." Ifalocyptena, " the swift ocean-flyer." 



[March 



