PSEUDOPRION DESOLATUS. 



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that iu my luonograpli I did not identify Gmeliu's name, merely quoting his description, 

 and adding to it a description of Scblegel's from tlie same specimen ttiat Kulil handled : 

 both these authors having considered it the same as Gmeliu's bird. It would appear, 

 however, that such is not the case, especially as we have Kamtschatka assigned as a 

 locality. 



The bird here treated is Pseudoprion banksii of my paper, but whether the banksii of 

 authors I am now uucertain. It is also, I have now no doubt, the original P. desolata 

 of Gmelin, as correctly allocated by Gray, and, consequently, in part the JEstrelata 

 desolata of my paper, but is apparently not the desolata of late authors. 



The expressions used by Gmelin in reference to the dark baud running clear across 



the body and wings, and the dark tip to the tail, point to a Prion, not to one of the 



CEstrelatce. — C. 



List of specimens, with measurements. 



Bill lavender-blue, wideued at base ; upper mandible sharply booked. 



Nostrils similar to those of Ealohcena ccorulea, but more distinctly 

 separated. 



Iris invisible during life, bluish-gray. 



Head blue-gray above; white line above ej'e; blue line from posterior 

 angle of eye to join the tint at the back of the head ; throat and region 

 around base of bill white. 



Body generally paler than that of Ralohcena cccrulea, but marked by a 

 dark band running from wrist-joint along radial portion of wing to and 

 across rump. This band becomes very distinct, when the bird is flying, 

 as a V-shaped marking. 



Tarsus and foot lilac-blue; claw black at tip, lilac or white at base; 

 middle claw turns sharply- outward. 



Tail marked by a black band of one-half inch at the tip. 



This bird was at first confounded by me with Halohcena ewrulea, which, 



in life, it greatly resembles. It was much less common at our station 



than Halohcena, none being observed until November 24 ; is smaller, 



much more pugnacious, and distinguished, on superficial examination, 



by the darJc band at the tips of the tail-feathers; Halohcena showing a 



white band in the same part. The beak, tarsus, and foot also are lav- 



euder-bliie iu Pseudoprion, but black in Halohcena. 



Fseudoprion burrows near the sea-shore, in lowland, under stones, or 

 3 



