NATURAL SCnNCJ:S OF I'lnLADELPIIIA. 119 



There are no points of synonymy conncctod with this species which require 

 notice. 



ADAMASTOR, Bon. 



Cltar. Gen. — Of large size and robust form. Bill a little shorter than the 

 head, about three-fourths the tarsus, broad and stout at the base, narrowing 

 regularly to the strong, very convex compressed unguis. Nasal tubes longer 

 than ordinary (for tlie Puffineio) very broad, depressed, but vertically trun- 

 cated at their extremity, and with an unusually thin septum, somewhat as in 

 the Fulmana^, to which tlie genus bears considerable analogy. Wings rather 

 short for this section ; the primaries broad and stout, the second quite as 

 long as the first. Tail rather short, of twelve feathers; the central rectrices 

 projecting and a little acuminate ; the lateral more rounded, and rapidly 

 graduated. Feet of the usual size, moderately compressed and stout. Tar- 

 sus shorter than the middle toe without its claw. Outer toe longer than the 

 middle. Tip of outer claw about reaching base of middle. 



The genus Adamastor was founded in 185G by Bonaparte to accommodate 

 certain Procellaridians, which seem to combine in a remarkable manner the 

 characteristics of both the Fulmarefe an<l the Puffinere. The species resem- 

 ble mo~t the Fulmareffi in the length, Vfi-tical truncation and thin septum 

 of the nasal tubes ; and also less markedly in the shape of the wings and 

 tail. In all other respects they are, however, true Puffinece. Tlie bill, in 

 shape and comparative sixe, can hardly be distinguished from that of Maja- 

 queus acijuinoctialia, which is one of the Puffiuese. The most essential char- 

 acter of the bill of the Fuhuart^ES is tliat tlie outline of the unguis of the lower 

 mandible is about straight and ascending ; that of the Fuffinese is very concave 

 and deeurved. Adcnnastur possesses the latter character. Again, the taii of 

 the Fulmareae has fourteen {Fulmarus) or sixteen {ossifraf/a) rectrices ; the 

 tail of Ad(tma^tor but twelve. The lai'ge stout feet, too, are those of Shear- 

 waters, and not of Fulmars. From these manifold considerations I think 

 that it is manitVst tliat the proper affinities of the somewhat anomalous 

 genus are decidedly with 'the Puffinese, rather than with the Fulmare^, 

 among which Bonaparte has located it. 



It is not a little surprising that so great confusioH and uncertainty should 

 have reigned concerning so mai-ked a species as P. cinereus, Gmel, the type 

 of this peculiar genus. On my remarks, infril, upon A. cinereus, and also 

 iipon Piiffiiiu^ Kahili, I hope I have elucidated several vexed questions of 

 synonymy satisfact 'rily. 



Three species are known to me to compose this genus. 



Adamastor cinereus Cones ex Gmel. 



Fiocellarla clnerea, Gmelin, Syst. Nat., I. pars 2, 17SS, p. 5G3. Latham, 

 Ind. Ornith., ii. 1790, p. 824. Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d'H. N., 1817, 

 XXV. p. 418. Sed non Proc. vel Pnff. vel Nectr. cinereus, Kuhl, Cuv., 

 Temm., Degl., Keys, et Bias. Schinz., Schleg. nee al auct. Europ. 

 recent, fere omnium, quse P. Kuldli, Boie : nee Audubon, et auct. 

 Americ. quse F. major Faber. 



Pnffinus cinereus, (Gm.) Lawrence, Birds N. A., 1858, p. 835 ; ex Cali- 

 fornia. (Homonyma accurate enumerata ; descriptio pr^estans ; et 

 observatioues pertinentes.) 



Procellaria heesitata, Forster, Descript. Anim., ed. Licht., 1844, p. 208. 

 Gould, Birds Austr., vii. pi. Ixvii. et Reichenbach, Syst. Av., pi. xxiv. 

 fig. 2iJ04 ; nee Kuhl, Beit. Zool., p. 142; nee Temm., PI. color tab. 

 416 ; quse species Astrelatce, generis, teste Bonaparteo. Puffinus hcesi- 

 tatus, Lawrence, Ann. New York Lye. Nat. Hist., 1853, vi. p. 5. 



Adamastor typus, Bonaparte, Consp. Avium, ii. 1856, p. 187. Comptes 

 Rendus Ac. Sc. Tab. Lone/lp. — Procellaria adamastor, Schlegel, Monog. 

 Proc. Mus. Pays-Bas, 1863, p. 25. 

 l§6i.] 



