NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 89 



with which I am acquainted, as well as references to and criticisms upon the 

 more or less doubtfully valid ones. I have purposely, however, omitted all 

 consideration of the Procellaria Bulweri of Jardine and Selby in this connec- 

 tion, because I cannot regard it as belonging to this group at all. This spe- 

 cies the Thalassidroma Bulweri of some authors the Puffinus columbinus, 

 Webb et Berth the Procellaria anjinko, Heine is by Bonaparte made the 

 type of a genus Bulweria, which its author places among the Procellarieae. 

 But I assert most confidently that the bird in question is not a " Stormy 

 Petrel" at all, but a species of the section Fulmareee, closely allied to, and 

 entirely congeneric with, the P. allantica, Gould, and the P. alerrima, Verreaux, 

 which compose Bonaparte's genus Pterodroma. The mo^t constant and uni- 

 formly diagnostic character of the Stormy Petrels proper is found in the short- 

 ness of the first primary, compared with the second and third, and in a cer- 

 tain peculiar flexibility and elasticity of all the remiges. The P. Bulweri has 

 none of these characteristics. The general contour of the bill, and especially 

 the size and shape of the nasal tubes are very difierent from what obtains 

 throughout the Procellarieae; while the feet and tail disagree to a scarcely 

 less marked extent. The fact of its small size seems to me no argument for 

 its introduction into this section, for it is scarcely smaller than several species 

 of Puffineae, e. g., nugax, Solander, or yelknan, Acerbi. In my mind there is 

 no doubt that Dr. Schlegel has correctly indicated its affinities in placing it in 

 intimate connection with the Pterodroma aterrima, Verreaux, and atlanlica, 

 Gould. 



The following is a brief synopsis of the genera and species of the section, 

 prepared according to the views expressed in the preceding pages. It is made 

 as brief as is consistent with perspicuity, only the more important features 

 being presented. 



Synopsis of the genera and species of the Procellarieae. 



Family PROCELLAR1DJE :T\i<i Petrels. 



Chs. Longipennine natatores, with tubular nostrils, and free, imperfect, or 

 rudimentary halluces. 



Subfamily PROG ELL ARINEJE .-The True Petrels. 



Chs. Nasal tubes united, placed on the culmen, opening horizontally for- 

 wards. 



Section PROCELLARIEAE : The Stormy Petrels. 



Chs. Nasal tubes long, elevated, the nostrils separated by a thin partition. 

 Bill shorter than the head. Wings long, the second primary always longer 

 than the first ; all the primaries elastic and flexible. Tail very variable in 

 shape, always long. Legs and feet more or less elongated, always slender and 

 compressed. Tibia? more or less denuded of feathers. Tarsi as long or longer 

 than the middle toe and claw. Outer toe nearly as long as the middle. 

 Hallux minute. Of small size, and very slender form. 



Group A. Leg? short (for this section). Tarsus but little, if any, exceeding 

 the middle toe and claw. Tibiaa denuded for but a short space. Claws com- 

 pressed, acute. Generally of dark and nearly uniform colors. 



I. Tail forked. 



1. Genus Oceanodroma, Reich. Bill small, weak, compressed. Third pri- 

 mary nearly as long as the second; first intermediate between fourth and 

 fifth ; colors variegated. 



0. f areata, Bp. ex Gmel. (P. furcata, Gm. P. orientalis, Pall. Thai, cinerea, 

 Gould. Thai, furcata, Gray, et Auct. Oceanod. orientalis, Reich. 0. furcata, 



1864.] 



