NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 83 



oceanica, Kuhl, Beit. Zool., 1820, Monog. Proc. p. 136, pi. x. fig. i. Thalassi- 

 droma oceanica, Gray. Gen. Birds iii., 1849. Thalassidroma Wilsoni, Bonap., J. 

 A. N. S., Philada. iii. 1823, p. 231, pi. ix. et auct,. Oceanites Wilsoni, Keys et 



Bias. Wirbelth. Europ. ii., 1840, p. 238. Oceanites oceanica, ? This is 



one of the best known and most widely distributed of the Procellarieae. Its 

 characters need not detain us. Some points of synonymy seem, however, to 

 require investigation. 



The first notice of the species is in 1808, when it was accurately described 

 and figured by Wilson, as above, under the erroneous name of Procellaria 

 pdagica, Linn. This error was first noticed and corrected by Bonaparte in 

 the Journal of the Philadelphia Academy for 1823, and the species named 

 Thalassidroma Wilsoni. This is the appellation by which it has been most 

 usually known to, ornithologists. 



In the year 1820 there appeared in Kuhl's Beitrage Zur Zoologie, in the 

 article entitled " Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Procellarien," a description 

 accompanied with a figure of the head, of the present species, under the 

 name of " Procellaria oceanica Banks." The figure is poor, and difficult to 

 recognize, but the full description is pertinent in every respect, and un- 

 equivocally refers to the present species. This name should consequently 

 receive that precedence over Wilsoni to which its priority clearly entitles. 

 Indeed, Bonaparte himself, in his Conspectus Generum Avium, p. 199, and 

 also in his Conspectus Gavia;rum in the Comptes Rendus for April 28, 1856. 

 admits that the two names refer to the same species. 



The only question appears to be this : Banks had, before the appearance of 

 Kuhl's Monograph, applied the name oceanica to specimens of this species 

 from the Southern Oceans. This Australian form Bonaparte considers as a 

 variety of the Atlantic bird, in the fasciculus of his Conspectus bearing date 

 of Jan. 1st, 1856; and shortly afterwards, in the Comptes Rendus for April 

 28, 1856, he accords to it full specific rank. If the Australian form be really 

 a distinct species, then, of course, it would bear Bank's and Kuhl's name of 

 oceanica, and Wilsoni could be retained for the Atlantic species. Such, how- 

 ever, I am confident, is not the case. I have carefully examined specimens 

 of the species from Australia (among them the types of Mr. Gould's work, 

 "The Bird's of Australia"), and I have failed to detect the slightest differ- 

 ences which could even mark the southern bird as a distinct variety. They 

 appear to me absolutely identical, as indeed they are considered by the 

 majority of writers. Such being the case, then, " Wilsoni, Bp.," must become 

 a synonym of oceanica, Kuhl, and the species be known as Oceanites oceanica. 



2. Oceanites mneata, Bonap. ex Peale. 



Thalassidroma lineata, Peale, Ornith. U. S. Expl. Exped. Oceanites Hneata, 

 Bonaparte, Consp. av. ii. 1856, p. 200. Several good examples of this well 

 marked species are in the Smithsonian Museum, being those collected by Mr. 

 Peale himself. It is very different in most of its characters from the preced- 

 ing species. It is a much larger bird. The wing measures 6} inches from 

 the flexure, the tail a little more than 3 inches. The tarsus is If inches 

 long; the middle toe and claw 1^. The bill is larger and stouter, though 

 of the same relative proportions. The tarsi, however, absolutely but little 

 if any longer, and are, therefore, relatively shorter, as lineata is a larger bird. 

 The general pattern of coloration is the same as in oceanica ; but lineata may 

 be readily distinguished by the white streaks which variegate the under sur- 

 face of the body and wings. On the anterior portions of the belly, the black 

 and white are in about equal amount, but more posteriorly and on the 

 crissum, under wing and tail coverts, the white is by far the predominating 

 color. The black appears only along the centre of each feather as a shaft 

 line, producing an appearance which renders the name " lineata" exceedingly 

 pertinent. This species wants the yellow spaces on the interdigital mera- 



1864.] 



