Petrels from the Nurth-East Pacific Occdn. 583 



iiiiylit prove to be a Puffiuoid bird. Examination of a series 

 of juvenile Petrels from New Zealand in the Vienna Museum 

 collected by Keischek, enabled Iredale (Austral Av. Rec. 

 vol. ii. 1913, pp. 17-24) to record some interesting data, 

 and we now incorporate our most recent investigations in 

 connection with these birds in the present review. 



Mathews (loc. cit. p. 45) included Pufflnus as used in the 

 'Monograph^ and Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. vol. xxv. ; on 

 p. 129 Pterodronia displaced yEstrelata on the score of 

 priority, the association of species being preserved. 



Since then both of us have broken up these genera, and we 

 add a further separation in this place. Now we would 

 indicate the genera admitted and the species allotted to 

 them, dealing with the old genus Piifflnus first. 



This genus, founded upon Prucellaria jnifftnus Brunnich, 

 has been enlarged to include all species having a similar or 

 dissimilar bill which had '' the look of a Puffinus." Neither 

 structure nor colour-pattern has been adhered to, but a some- 

 what quaint rule-of-thumb process has become universal. 

 If the bill of P. piijfinus be compared with that of P. kuhlii, 

 the difference observed is immense. If P. kuhlii be now 

 contrasted with Procellaria aquinoctialis Linne, a much 

 greater resemblance will be seen ; yet these are placed 

 in different genera. Mathews pointed out that the 

 subfamilies recognised in the ' Monograph ' were un- 

 tenable ; and we now emphasize the fact that the generic 

 diagnoses provided in tliat work are as incorrect in con- 

 nection with this group as we have shown them to be in 

 connection with the preceding. Thus (p. xxxix) in the 

 generic key we get • — 



" a. Tarsi distinctly compressed, the anterior edge sharp. 



a . Nasal tube flat, both apertures visible from above, 



directed forwards and slightly upwards; rectrices 



twelve in number Puffinus. 



h. Tarsi not compressed, more rounded on the anterior 

 edge ; rectrices twelve in number, 

 c". Bill long, stout, mostly yellow in colour; unguis 

 large ; nasal tube directed forwards ; claw of 

 hallux small Mojdqucus.'" 



