458 Letters, Announcements, S^c. 



firmed by the sailors of the vessels trading thither, who generally 

 pay me a visit at this museum during their " liberty run " on 

 shore. 



Diomedea fuliginosa. Capt. Armson brought a single speci- 

 men of this bird's egg. It measures 4" 2'" by 2" 6'", and resem- 

 bles, generally, that of the larger D. exulans, being chalky white, 

 coarse to the touch, and of a square truncated form. It is also 

 minutely pitted in an indistinct band at the obtuse end with 

 reddish dots. This species is called " Blue bird " by the sealers, 

 who readily distinguish it from the equally sooty Giant Petrel 

 by the white eyelids and white mark along the bill. They say 

 it lays only a single egg, which is very good eating. 



Procellaria gigantea. The egg measures 4" 3'" by 2" 8'", and 

 is of a dirty white and very rough, reminding one of that of a 

 Crax. In shape it is like that of a common Goose, and is rather 

 pointed at each end. It retains the strong musky odour of the 

 parent, which is called " Glutton-bird " by the dealers, who 

 state that they cannot eat the egg on account of its smell. 

 There is only one egg laid in each nest. These birds are said 

 to be so fearless that they congregate on the carcasses of the 

 seals which are being cut up, and rival the men in the flensing 

 process. 



Chionis minor *. This elegant bird, the " Snow-drop " and 

 " Snow-flake" of the Sealers, seems to abound in the Crozette 

 Islands. Capt. Armson has succeeded in bringing several speci- 

 mens alive to the Cape. A single egg obtained by him was 

 unfortunately attacked by mice on board ; but enough remains to 

 show its contour and colour. The instant I saw it I was re- 

 minded of the eggs of Hcematopus ; and on placing it in the col- 

 lection along with these, the very sailors about me wei'c struck 

 with the resemblance. It measures 2" 10'" by 1" 10'", and 

 is of an olive-brown, unequally spotted with dark and light 

 purple or deep brown. It is difficult to describe these light 

 purple blotches — they appear as if they were dark-brown spots 

 seen through a semitransparent medium or film. In shape it is 



* [Mr. Layard by mistake \\'rote C. alba ; but the specimen lie sent to 

 the British Museum proves that these notes refer to the smaller species, 

 as we are kindly informed by Mr. G. R. Gray. — Ed.] 



