126 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



Nectris carxeipes, Bp. ex Gould. 



Puffinus carneipes, Gould, P. Z. S. xii. March 26, 1844, p. 57. Id. Ann. 

 et Mag. N. H., 1844, xiii. lma., series, p. 365. Majaqueas carneipes, 

 Reichenbach, Syst. Av., pi. xxiv. fig. 2601. Nectris carneipes, Bona- 

 parte, Consp. Av. ii. 1856, p. 201. Procellaria carneipes, Schlegel, 

 Mon. Proc. Mus. Pays-Bas, 1862, p. 26, (sine bona ratione Nect. fuligi- 

 nos. Strickl. conjuncta.) 

 "Puffinus cinereus, Smith, III. S. Afric, Bds., pi. 56." "Nectris gama, 

 Bp. Consp. Av. ii. p. 202;" de utroque teste Schlegelo. 

 Habitat." Numerous in all the seas bounding the western coast of Aus- 

 tralia; and breeding on the small islands off Cape Leeuwin." [Gould.] 



This species is quite closely allied to fuliginosus, but differs from it by ex- 

 ceedingly well marked characters. The plumage is much the some in both 

 species, 'but the bill of carneipes is " fleshy white, the culmen and tips of the 

 mandibles brown ; the legs, feet, and membranes, yellowish flesh-color." Be- 

 sides these differences in color, there appear to be equally marked discre- 

 pancies in proportions ; thus, vihi\e fuliginosus is eighteen inches long, and 

 carneipes only fifteen, the absolute lengths of the bill, feet, and wings is very 

 nearly the same. (Compare original descriptions by Strickland and Gould.) 

 I have never seen any example so small as the one whose measurements are 

 given by Dr. Schlegel, p. 26 of his monograph, but the limits within which 

 any species of this family may vary are very great. But even granting for a 

 moment the identity of the two species, I do not see upon what authority Dr. 

 Schlegel has given the name carneipes of 1844 priority over fuliginosus of 

 1832. 



Bonaparte, in his Conspectus, has a species N. gama, from South Africa, 

 with which he considers Puff, cinereus, juv., Smith, as synonymous. I have 

 never had an opportunity of examining a specimen professing to be of this 

 species ; but as the diagnosis scarcely shows tangible points of difference, and 

 as Dr. Schlegel is convinced of its identity with carneipes, I shall, for the 

 present at least, follow his authority in assigning it as a synonym of that 

 species. 



An excellent suite of specimens of carneipes is in the collection of the Phila- 

 delphia Academy. 



Nectris tenuirostris Bp. ex Temm. 



Procellaria tenuirostris, Temminck, PI. Col., No. 587. Schlegel, Mon. 

 Proc. Mus. Pays-Bas, 1863, p. 26. Puffinus tenuirostris, Temm. et 

 Schl., Faun. Japon. Aves., p. 131, pi. 86. Nectris tenuirostris, Bona- 

 parte, Consp. Av. ii. 1S56, p. 202. "Proc. curilicus, Musseorurn Berol. 

 et St. Petersburg." 

 "Puff, tristis, Mus. Parisiensis." 

 Habit at. Japan, and neighboring seas. 



I have before me a typical example of this marked species, from Niphon, 

 agreeing in every respect with the types of the species as described by Schle- 

 gel- 



The most peculiar character of form of this species is found in the shape ol 

 the bill. It is stout at the base, where it is a little broader than high, but 

 rapidly becomes both compressed and depressed, tapering to a small, weak, 

 only moderately hooked unguis. This unusually weak bill is also short, be- 

 ing much less than the head, and only about two-thirds the tarsus. The nostrils 

 measure about a third the length of the culmen. The commissure and out- 

 line of the inferior mandibular rami are both nearly perfectly straight. The 

 wings are very long, reaching much beyond the rest ; the primaries are all 

 tapering and acute. The tail is exceedingly short, its length being contained 

 nearly three times in the wing from the carpus, the central retrices projecting 

 a little, the lateral rapidly graduated. The feet are moderately laaye and 



[April, 



