462 THALASSIDROMA PELAGICA. 



cuius. It now becomes much narrower, and passes directly 

 backward, ending in the rectum, Avliich is four- twelfths in 

 length, nearly one-twelfth in width, but enlarges into a 

 globular cloaca nearly three-twelfths in diameter. The coeca 

 are a twelfth and a quarter in length, and nearly half a twelfth 

 in breadth. The entire length of the intestine is nine inches, 

 its width from two-twelfths to three-fourths of a twelfth. 



The nostrils are dorsal, submedial, and open abruptly in 

 the form of two approximated tubes. The eyes small. The 

 feet are of moderate length ; the tibia bare for four-twelfths 

 of an inch ; the tarsus very slender, rather long, flat before, 

 rather sharp behind, covered with subhexagonal scales. The 

 hind toe extremely minute, with a conical acute claw ; the 

 anterior toes long and slender, the outer a little shorter than 

 the middle, the second with twelve scutella on the second 

 joint, the third twenty-eight, the fourth twenty-eight. The 

 interdigital membranes emarginate. The anterior claws 

 small, slightly arched, compressed, pointed. 



The plumage is full, very soft, and blended ; the feathers 

 ovate. The wings are very long, when closed extending 

 about half an inch beyond the tail, narrow and pointed, with 

 twenty-four quills ; the primaries tapering, but obtuse ; the 

 second longest, the third scarcely shorter, the first a quarter 

 of an inch shorter, and a little longer than the fourth ; the 

 secondaries curved iuAvards, short, rounded, obliquely emargi- 

 nate, the inner short. The tail is broad, straight, slightly 

 rounded, of twelve broad abrupt slightly emarginate feathers, 

 of which the medial is a qiiarter of an inch longer than the 

 lateral. 



The bill and feet are black, as are the eyes. The general 

 colour of the plumage is greyish-black above, with a tinge of 

 greyish-brown on the forehead, sooty-brown beneath. The 

 secondary coverts are more tinged with grey, and are mar- 

 gined externally toward the end and at the tip with greyish- 

 white. A broad band of white passes across the rump, 

 including the tail-coverts, which, however, are black at the 

 end, and extending to the hind part of the sides beneath. 

 The feathers under the tail are also white at the base, as are 

 the tail-feathers, although that colour docs not appear until 



