BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 173 



an inch or two within the entrance, especially if it be in a slope 

 near the sea, may be regarded as a burrow most likely to be that 

 of a White-chinned Petrel. If it is occupied by the birds there will 

 probably be some green shoots of Accena, clipped off from plants 

 near its mouth, dropped by them in the water. During the season 

 when the birds are pairing, before their egg is laid, they make an 

 extraordinary cackle in the nest-chamber; the sound of approach- 

 ing footsteps, or a thump upon the ground some distance from the 

 nest, and even a shout at the mouth of the burrow, will cause 

 them to commence in the daytime. During the night this call is 

 uttered by the female sitting on her nest or in the entrance of the 

 tunnel, and she can be heard at a distance of a quarter of a mile 

 when it is calm." 



BLACK PETREL 

 (Majaqueus parkinsoJii, Gray). 



Male. — Similar in plumage to the previous species, but smaller, 

 and also lacks the white band on the head and the white chin. 

 Dimensions in mm. : — Length, about 460; bill, 50; wing, 335; tail, 

 105; tarsus, 55. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Nest. — A burrow, either in loose soil or under the roots of trees, 

 or even under stones. 



Eggs. — Clutch one; stout oval in shape; texture coarse; surface 

 glossy; colour pure white. Dimensions in nnn. : — 69 x 49. 



Breeding Season. — November and December. 



Geographical Distribution. — Seas of Tasmania, New South 

 Wales, Victoria, and New Zealand. 



Observations. — The Black Petrel is an infrequent wanderer to 

 Tasmanian waters. Round the coast of New Zealand, however, it 

 is very numerous, and breeds in great numbei's in certain parts of 

 the North Island and on small islands off the coast. The Maoris 

 make great inroads not only among the young birds, but also the 

 old ones, which are captured in large numbers by lighting fires 

 on calm nights and thus decoying them to their destruction. 



*GREAT-WINGED PETREL (Long-winged Petrel) 

 (O^strelata macroptera, Smith). 



Male. — Both the upper and lower surfaces are sooty-brown-, 

 the back is tinged with grey; tail black; quills also black; "the 

 primaries dull ashy at the base of the inner web, not forming a 

 white base " (Godman) ; " bill and feet black" (Buller). Dimen- 

 sions in mm. : — Length, about 385; bill, 34; wing, 300; tail, 45; 

 tarsus, 41. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Nestling. — "Covered with dingy slaty-grey down; the black 



