FRIGATE-PETREL. 283 



Wilson's Petrel. Oceanites oceanims (Kuhl). 



Wilson's Petrel inhabits the Antarctic and migrates north at 

 the approach of the southern winter ; thus, when it reaches our 

 islands, which it does on rare occasions, its visits are in summer. 

 Most of the occurrences have been on the south coast, but it has 

 reached the Hebrides once and Ireland twice, as well as Cum- 

 berland and Yorkshire. Gould saw some numbers off Land's 

 End in May, 1838, and apparently some remained all summer, 

 as a bird was obtained in Cornwall in November of that year. 

 So far as is known its habits and flight are similar to those of 

 most petrels. Dr. E. A. Wilson saw it, flitting " apparently 

 never tired " over the Antarctic ice like a House-Martin hawk- 

 ing for flies. Its plumage is black, with the white lower back 

 of other petrels, but its legs are long, and the black toes have 

 yellow webs. The tail is variable, sometimes square, some- 

 times slightly forked. Length, 7 ins. Wing, 6 ins. Tarsus, 

 1*4 ins. 



Frigate-Petrel. Pelagodroma marina (Latham). 



The Frigate-Petrel is a bird of the South Pacific and 

 Atlantic, with colonies as far north as the Salvage and Cape 

 Verde Islands. It has twice been known to wander to Britain, 

 the first washed ashore after a gale at Walney Island in 

 November, 1890, where it was picked up together with an 

 example of Wilson's Petrel and other oceanic birds. The 

 second was captured in the Hebrides in January, 1897. This 

 bird is lighter in colour than the petrels previously mentioned ; 

 its forehead, a conspicuous eye-stripe, and under parts are white ; 

 its head, cheeks, neck, and back are dark slate, and its lower 

 back paler slate. Its wings are brown, its bill and long legs 

 black, and its webs yellow. Length, 775 ins. Wing, 6*25 ins. 

 Tarsus, r6 ins. 



