I 



NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 127 



Stout ; the tarsus is about equal to the middle toe without its claw ; the outer 

 toe and claw are equal in length to the middle toe and claw ; the tip of the 

 inner claw falls short of the base of the middle. 



Bill mostly dusky greenish yellow, brighter along the commissure and at 

 tip. Feet yellowish on the anterior, exterior and internal aspect of the tarsus 

 and toes, and the superior surfaces of the webs, the posterior edge of the tar- 

 sus, and the under "surface of the webs blackish. Above very deep sooty 

 black, becoming pure black on the rectrices and outer webs of the primaries, 

 with a just appreciable ashy nuance on the wing coverts. Inner webs of 

 nimaries (except at their tips) and the under surfaces of the wings generally 

 ight dull grayish brown. Shaft of primaries black, except along a groove on 

 their under surfaces, which is yellowish. Beneath, the whole body is of _ a 

 rather light fuliginous or brownish grey, fading, on the throat, (especially in 

 more immature birds) almost into greyish white. The under tail coverts, 

 however, are nearly as dark as the upper parts, only rather more fuliginous. 



Dimensions. Wing from the carpus 10-00 inches : central tail feathers 3*50 ; 

 lateral 2-7- r > : bill along culmen 1-20 ; depth at base -30 ; widih at base -40 ; 

 tarsus 1*90 ; middle toe and claw 2-25 ; outer toe and claw the same ; inner 

 toe and claw just equal to the tarsus. 



This strongly marked species is distinguished from all its congeners by its 

 small size, weak, peculiarly shaped bill, very short tail, and peculiarly 

 colored feet, The difference in intensity between the colors of upper and 

 under parts are quite appreciable. 



Synonymy. The proper name of this species is a matter of no uncertainty, 

 but what designations are to be referred to it as synonyms is more doubtful. 

 Both Bonaparte and Schlegel place " curilicus, Pennant," of the museums of 

 Europe, as a synonym, which is merely, however, saying that certain muse- 

 ums have called tenuirostris, " curilicus, '' and does not in the least affect the 

 question as to whether curilicus be properly a synonym. I am inclined to 

 think that it is not, but that it is rather to be referred to another and larger 

 species of this fuliginous genus. 



Bonaparte and Schlegel both consider " tristis, Forster, Descr. p. 205," as 

 synonymous with this species. It is difficult to sav whether such is oris not 

 the case ; but my own impression, derived from a careful study of the charac- 

 ters laid down by Forster, is that his tristis refers to a species much larger, 

 and with a stouter bill than the present ; possibly the true curilicus, Penn. 



Nectkis brevicapda Bp. ex Brandt. 



Paffinus brevicaudus, Brandt, " Ic. Rossic, A v. pi. vi. fig. 17." Gould, 

 Ann. et Mag. N. H., xiii. lma series, 1844, p. 365. Gould, Birds 

 Austr. viii. pi. 56. Majaqueus (!) brevicaudatus, Reichenbach, " Syst. 

 Av. pi. xxxvii. fig. 2271 2." Nectris brevicaudus, Bonap., Consp., 

 Av. ii. 1656, p. 201. 

 HabHat. ' ' Found in all the Australia seas, and breeds in the greatest abund- 

 ance on several of the islands in Bass's straits." [Gould.] 



"Blackish fuliginous, lighter beneath; bill black, yellowish at the base ; 

 feet cinereous, their webs yellow." [Bonaparte.] 



This is a species with which I am autoptically unacquainted, nor have I ac- 

 cess to the original description and figure of Brandt, and I am therefore un- 

 able to discuss its characters and relationships. By Dr. Schlegel it is placed 

 as a synonym, with a query of N. tenuirostris, but other authors all agree in 

 considering it as a valid species. 



PUFFINTJS Brisson. 



Hill about as long as the head, or a little less, about three-fourths the tar- 

 sus, ra,ther stout, a little higher than broad at the base, compressed for the 



1864.] 



