NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 119 



There are no points of synonymy connected with this species which require 

 notice. 



ADAMASTOR, Bon. 



Char. Gen. Of large size and robust form. Bill a little shorter than the 

 head, about three-fourths the tarsus, broad and stout at the base, narrowing 

 regularly to the strong, very convex compressed unguis. Nasal tubes longer 

 than ordinary (for the Puffinea?) very broad, depressed, but vertically trun- 

 cated at their extremity, and with an unusually thin septum, somewhat as in 

 the Fulmarese, to which the genus bears considerable analogy. Wings rather 

 short for this section ; the primaries broad and stout, the second quite as 

 long as the first. Tail rather short, of twelve feathers ; the central rectrices 

 projecting and a little acuminate ; the lateral more rounded, and rapidly 

 graduated. Feet of the usual size, moderately compressed and stout. Tar- 

 sus shorter than the middle toe without its claw. Outer toe longer than the 

 middle. Tip of outer claw about reaching base of middle. 



The genus Adamastor was founded in 1856 by Bonaparte to accommodate 

 certain Procellaridians, which seem to combine in a remarkable manner the 

 characteristics of both the Fulmarese and the Puffineas. The species resem- 

 ble mo;t the Fulmareae in the length, vertical truncation and thin septum 

 of the nasal tubes ; and also less markedly in the shape of the wings and 

 tail. In all other respects they are, however, true Puffinea?. The bill, in 

 shape and comparative size, can hardly be distinguished from that of Maja- 

 <jneu.s a,equinoctialis, which is one of the Puffinese. The most essential char- 

 acter of the bill of the Fulinareaa is that the outline of the unguis of the lower 

 mandible is about straight and ascending ; that of the Puffinea is very concave 

 and decurved. Adamastor possesses the latter character. Again, the tail of 

 the Fuliuaieas has fourteen (Fnlmarus) or sixteen {ossifraga) rectrices ; the 

 tail of Adamastor but twelve. The large stout feet, too, are those of Shear- 

 waters, and not of Fulmars. From these manifold considerations I think 

 that it is manifest that the proper affinities of the somewhat anomalous 

 genus are decidedly with the Puffiuere, rather than with the Fulmareas, 

 among which Bonaparte has located it. 



It is not a little surprising that so great confusion and uncertainty should 

 have reigned concerning so marked a species as P. cinereus, Gmel, the type 

 of this peculiar genus. On my remarks, infra, upon A. cinereus, and also 

 upon Puffiini* Kuhlii, I hope I have elucidated several vexed questions of 

 synonymy satisfact rily. 



Three species are known to me to compose this genu,s. 



Adamastor cinereus Coues ex Gmel. 



Procellaria cinerea, Gmelin, Syst. Nat., I. pars 2. 1788, p. 563. Latham, 

 Ind. Ornith., ii. 1790, p. 824. Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d'H. N., 1817, 

 xxv. p. 418. Sed non Proc. vel Puff, vel Nectr. cinereus, Kuhl, Cuv., 

 Temm., Degl., Keys, et Bias. Schinz., Schleg. nee al auct. Europ. 

 recent, fere omnium, qua? P. Kuhlii, Boie : nee Audubon, et auet. 

 Amerie. quae P. major Faber. 



Puffiuus cinereus, (<Jm.) Lawrence, Birds N. A., 1858, p. 835 ; ex Cali- 

 fornia. (Homonyma accurate enumerata ; descriptio pnestans ; et 

 observationes pertinentes.) 



Procellaria kcesitata, Forster, Descript. Anim., ed. Licht., 1844, p. 20S. 

 Gould, Birds Austr., vii. pi. lxvii. et Reichenbach, Syst. Av., pi. xxiv. 

 fig. 2ij04 ; nee Kuhl, Beit. Zool., p. 142; nee Temm., PI. color tab. 

 416; qua? species Astrelatce generis, teste Bonaparteo. Puffnus hcesi- 

 tafus, Lawrence, Ann. New York Lye. Nat. Hist., 1853, vi. p. 5. 



Adeimaxtor typus, Bonaparte, Consp. Avium, ii. 1856, p. 187. Comptes 

 Rendus Ac. Sc. Tab. Longip. Procellaria adamastor, ScLlegel. Monog. 

 Proc. Mas. Pays-Bas, 1863, p. 25. 

 1864.] 



