26 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



tions, though presenting considerable diversity in coloration. The genus 

 Adamastor which has been placed among the Fulmars by Bonaparte, seems, 

 as I have attempted to show in aprevious paper,* to fall mo-t naturally among 

 the PuffinecB ; being not widely separable from Majaqueus, which Bonaparte him- 

 self (Cons[). Av. ii. p. 200) places among the Shearwaters. The position of the 

 somewhat anomalous genus Daption is a little uncertain ; possessing, as it 

 does, some of the characteristics of the present group. I am of opinion, however, 

 that it is most naturally to be included with the ^Estrelatece, uuder which 

 section I shall hereafter consider it. 



The section Fulmareie then, as thus constituted, is composed of large or 

 moderate sized species, having a form very stout, compact, and robast, and 

 being nearly always very light colored. It is apparently the section of Petrels 

 most closely allied to the Laridce, and forming the connecting link between 

 the two families. Particjlarly in the genus Thalassoica ii the Laridine 

 aspect very marked. 



The bill is always large and robust. The unguis of the upper mandible 

 is strong, very convex in profile, and much hooked at the extremity. That of the 

 lower mandible is never much attenuated nor decurved, with the outline of 

 the gonys decidedly concave; but is short, stout, obtuse, with a straight as- 

 cending gonys. The nasal tubes are prominent, wide, long, vertically trun- 

 <'ated, usually emarginated at their end ; the nasal septum very thin and deli- 

 cate. The wings are of moderate length, reaching when folded about to the end 

 of the tail ; the primaries are very broad. The tail is short ; more or less 

 rounded ; of 14 to 16 feathers, all of which are broad and subtruncated at their 

 extremities. The feet are comparatively small and weak. The tarsus is 

 slender, compressed, reticulated, shorter than the middle toe. The outer toe 

 is as long or longer than the middle one. The tip of the inner claw about 

 reaches to the base of the middle. 



Of the three genera which I regard as the components of this section, Ossi- 

 fraga has 16 rectrices, while Fulmar us and Thalassoica have but 14. Of Fal- 

 marus we at present know three species ; of Thalassoica, two ; while Ossi/raga 

 has but a single representative. The section is cosmopolitan. 



FULMARUS Leach. 



Procellaria sp., Auctorum ; nee Linn. 



Fulmarus, Leach, Stephen's Gen. Zool. 1825, xiii. p. 233. Type Proc. glacialis L. 



Rhantistps, Kaup, Sk. Ent. Eur. Thierw. 1829, p. 37. Same type. 



Gen. Char. Bill about two-thirds as long as the head, three-fourths as long 

 as the tarsus ; short, very stout, exceedingly robust at the base, where it is 

 higher than broad ; the lateral laminae of the upper mandible especially large, 

 and swollen ; the unguis sliort, very stout, convex in outline, commencing to 

 rise almost from the nostrils ; commissure greatly curved ; the outline of 

 inferior mandibular rami a little concave ; the gonys ascending ; the sulci of 

 both mandibles deep and distinct ; the nasal tubes long, nearly half the cul- 

 men, prominent, inflated, their dorsal outline about straight, their apex emar- 

 ginate, vertically truncated ; the nasal septum very thin. Wings of moderate 

 length ; reaching when folded about to end of tail ; the primaries very broad 

 at their bases, somewhat rapidly tapering to their rounded tips. Second pri- 

 mary nearly as long as the first. Tail of 14 rectrices, all broad, subtruncated ; 

 the lateral ones somewhat graduated. Feet rather small and weak ; the 

 tibiae exposed for a short distance ; the tarsi slender, moderately compressed, 

 about three fourths as long as the middle toe and claw. Outer toe and claw 

 about equal to middle toe and claw ; the toe alone longer than the middle 

 without its claw. Inner toe very short, the tip of its claw barely reaching to 

 the base of the middle claw. Hallux short, only observable as a stout obtuse 

 subconical claw. 



* Vide Pr A. N. S Ph. f ji April, 18G4, p. 117. 



[March, 



