Extracts from the Minute-Book of the Linnean Society. 689 
Linnean Society. Both the specimens were in about equal degrees 
well fed :— 
Weight of the Stormy Petrel 4 drams 35 grains; of Wilson's Petrel 5 drams 2 scruples, 
Length i m 6 inches ; " " 7 inches, 
Spread of the wings „ 14} inches ; T » 16] inches. 
The wings extend beyond the tail J an inch ; * ie 14 inch. 
toes extend, short of the beyond the tail 4 inch 2 lines. 
With the legs extended, the 
h line ; 
end of the tall sc... . . . 
“ The Stormy Petrel is feathered just to the tarsal joint; but in 
Wilson’s Petrel the feathers only approach within 4 lines of it. In the 
former the tarsus is in length 1 line short of an inch, in the latter 
1 inch 4 lines, and equally slender with the former; and the hinder 
toe is so minute, that it might escape any but attentive examination. 
In the bill the markings are more strongly defined, with the ter- 
minal hook longer and sharper. The prominence of the forehead is 
less than in the more common species. Colour of the head black, 
with a tint of hoary, lighter on the throat. The back, belly, wings 
and tail ferruginous, lighter on the wing-coverts; the rump white, 
and a little of the same at the vent. Tarsi and feet black, with a 
longitudinal stripe of sulphur-yellow, more golden at the borders, on 
the web between each toe. 
* This species, being of a stouter configuration than the common 
Petrel, is probably better able than it to escape the violence of a 
storm ; the reason, perhaps, why it does not more frequently come 
near our coasts. But something also may be ascribed to the manner 
of its flight; that of the Stormy Petrel resembling the hovering mo- 
tion of a Bat, and thus going before the violence of a gale, rather 
than counteracting its influence. As the minuter actions of these 
birds are so little known, it may be interesting to add, that in exa- 
mining the stomach of a Stormy Petrel, about the length of half 
an inch of a common tallow candle was found, of a size so dispro- 
portioned to the bill and gullet of the bird, that it seems wonderful 
how it could have been able to swallow it. It is remarked, that when 
