824 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



The wings of all are long and pointed, and they are much on 

 the wing, from which they usually take their food, either from the 

 surface of the water, or by plunging for it. They feed on fish, 

 Crustacea, molluscs, dead animal matter, and a few on worms and 

 insects. Their plumage is very bulky and dense, and when floating, 

 their bodies are high out of the water ; they for the most part swim 

 badly, and very few dive. 



They are divided into two great families, — 1st, ProccUaridas, 

 comprising the Albatrosses and Petrels, — 2nd Laridcc, the Gulls 

 and Terns. 



Fam. PROCELLARiDiE, Petrels, &c. 



Bill much hooked at the tip, the" apical portion of both man- 

 dibles distinctly separated from the basal portion, and appearing 

 as if a piece bad been joined on to the rest; the nostrils are united 

 to form a tube on the base of the bill ; the feet are fully webbed 

 in front, but have only a claw behind, in place of a hind toe, joined 

 by ligament to the tarsus. 



The Petrels and Albatrosses somewhat resemble Gulls in ap- 

 pearance, but they are strictly Oceanic, are found at vast distances 

 from land, and appear to pass the greater part of their lives in skim- 

 ming over the waves. Their wings are very long and ample. 

 They nestle on rocks, producing only one agg, and they live chiefly 

 on oily substances floating on the waves, the fat of dead whales, 

 &c., thus appearing to be the scavengers of the sea. 



The sternum is wide and convex, and has only one fissure, and 

 the keel is high and prolonged. The stomach is thin and capa- 

 cious, and the casca short. They vary in size from the little 

 stormy Petrel to the giant Albatross. Two or three species of 

 I'etrel have been observed in the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean. 



They are divided into the following families : — 

 1^^. — Diomedince, Albatrosses. 

 '2nd. — Procellarinw, Petrels. 

 3y.j. — Hcdodrominos^ Diving Petrels. 



Sub. fam. DiOMEDiNJi. 



Albatrosses have not been observed so far north as the Bay of 

 Bengal. They are the giants of the family, and indeed are among 



