206 FALLA, X.Z. Petrels Washed Ashore. FisfS" 



Notes on Petrels washed ashore, West Coast, 

 Auckland Province, N.Z. 



By R. A. FALLA, R.A.O.U., Auckland, X.Z. 



As questions arise from time to time in connection with the 

 occurrence of numbers of dead Short-tailed and Wedge-tailed 

 Shearwaters on Australian coasts, a few notes on the occurrence 

 of dead Petrels on New Zealand coasts, more particularly the 

 west, may prove of interest. 



The few observations recorded here extend over a period of 

 five years, and have been made whenever opportunities occurred 

 for rush trips to points on the west coast within a thirty-mile 

 radius of Auckland, between the Manukau and Kaijjara Harbour 

 entrances. Information thus secured is necessarily inc(jmplete, 

 but the following notes should serve as a ])reliminary record of 

 the commoner species. 



Pelagrodroma marina. White-faced Storm-Petrel. — This i.s the only 

 Storm-Petrel that ha.s so far come untlor my notice on the coast, two 

 specimens being; found on Muriwai Beach early in January, 1920. It 

 is common, however, on the east coast, breeding just outside the en- 

 trance to Auckland Harbour. 



Puffinus assimilis. Allied Shearwater. — Not common. A few bodies 

 appear on the beaches in November, and continue to wash ashore until 

 early in January. 



Puffinus tenuirostris. Short-tailed Shearwater. — This common 

 Australian Mutton-Bird is rarely met with on the west coast here. One 

 found during January, 191.9, is my only record of it up to the present. 



Puffinus griseus. Sombre Shearwater (New Zealand Mutton-Bird). 

 Perishes in immense numbers between the months of October and 

 February, while a few dead birds may be picked up as early as Sep- 

 tember, and as late as March or April. They are usually in good con- 

 dition, and fairly fat, although the stomach is invariably empty. 



Puffinus bulleri. Lcng-tailed Shearwater. — During January trips to 

 the coast, I have twice found the remains of this rare Petrel, in each 

 case too late to preserve any parts except tail, tarsi, skull, and a few 

 of the primaries. 



F^uffinus gavia. Forster Shcai-water. — Washed ashore on both east 

 and west coasts from December until March, but not in great numbers. 



Puffinus carneipes. Fleshy-footed Sheai-water. — Although a com- 

 mon breeder on the eastern side of the Auckland Peninsula, this bird 

 is evidently not very common in the Tasman Sea, as I have only one 

 specimen from the west coast. 



Priocefia antarctica. Silver-Grey Petrel. — A straggler, so far found 

 only once, during January. 



Proceliaria parkinsoni. Black Petrel. — Breeds at various places on 

 the east coast of the Auckland district, but does not seem common 

 on the west. Early this year (1921) I found the first that has come 

 under my notice. 



Pterodroma macroptera. Great-winged Petrel. — Breeds at several 

 places along the west coast, north of Manukau Heads, and is often 



