NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 31 



tlieir shafts yellowisb white at the base, changing to black towards their apices ; 

 their inner webs pearly white near their tips. This white on the first primary 

 extends to within two inches of the tip ; on the rest successively extends nearer 

 the tip of each, till on tlie innermost it occupies the whole web. Secondaries 

 slaty black on their outer, white on their inner webs. Elsewhere the bird is 

 pure white ; except a small anteocular dusky spot ; and a faint shade of pearl 

 gray on the sides of the breast and body, and on the flanks. 



Dimensions. Length 18 to 19 inches, extent of wings about 36. Bill along 

 culmen 2, from feathers on side of lower mandible l'7iJ ; its height or width 

 at base '70 ; nasal tubes '66. Wing from the carpus 13. Tail 5 '25. Tarsus 2 ; 

 middle toe and claw 2-60 ; outer 2-70 ; inner 2-25. 



There is no other species towards which the present bears an intimate re- 

 semblance. Th. antarctica is exceedingly dissimilar in color, though so nearly 

 the same in form. The generic peculiarities — especiallyof the bill — of Fulran- 

 rus glacialis er pacijicus at once distinguish the latter. 



Synoni/mi/. The Proc. glacialis of Forster's Descriptiones Animalium is un- 

 doubtedly this species. The expressions regarding the nasal tube — " coerules- 

 cens in rostro incarnato,* — apice nigro"; and regarding the primaries — "fusco- 

 nigrfe, margins interiore albido, " are quite inconsistent with the true glacialis. 

 This is the only instance I have met with of the application of the name " (jUi- 

 cialis ' ' to this species. 



The Procellaria tenuirostris Audubon is most certainly this species. I have 

 compared Audubon's type specimen with specimens of undoubted gl icialoidex 

 from various localities. Mr. Cassin has shown (U. S. Expl. Exp. 1858, Birds, 

 p. 409) that possibly Audubon's designation has priority over that of Smith. 



I do not suppose that the var. polaris of Bonaparte's Conspectus is in any 

 way diverse fr. m the true glacialoide^. 



I hardly know upon what grounds Dr. Schlegel has laid aside the prior names 

 of this species to give it the appellation " Smithi." 



Thalassoica ANTARCTICA Reich. 

 Procellaria antarctica, Gmelin, S. N. 1788, i. p. 565 ; et auct. 

 Thalassoica antarctica, Reichenbach, Syst. Av. t. 22, fig. 790. Bonaparte, 

 Consp. Av. 1856, ii. p. 192. 



In this species there is the same gr>neral character of the nasal tube as in 

 T. glacialoi'les ; though it is comparatively a little broader and shorter, and 

 somewhat less carinated on the median dorsal line. The sult;i uniting the 

 different laminse of the bill are ratuer deeper and more distinct, taking awav 

 something of the Laridiue aspect, so marked in the other species. The lateral 

 rostral lamina is wider at its base, and tapers more rapidly to the acute apex 

 by which it is united to the unguis. The tip of the lower mandible is more 

 decurved, and the gonys is a little concave. 



The coloration of this species is so peculiar, and so widely dissimilar from 

 any other Procellaridlan, that it is needless to give any description here. The 

 species has I believe no important synonyms. 



OSSIFRAGA Hombr. et Jacq. 

 Procellarin sp. Graelin, et auct. 

 Ossifraga, Hombron et Jacqninot. 



Char. Tail of 16 rectrices, moderately long, rounded. Win.'s rather short, 

 and not very pointed. Tarsi short, much less than the middle toe without its 

 claw ; compressed, stout, reticulated. Bill as long or rather exceeding the 

 tarsus, very robust ; the nasal case very long, depressed, carinated, the aper- 

 ture small. Of immense size and powerful organization. 



♦•'Bill black and flesh-colored, the latter hue f.<ding to whitish on drying," I find on the 

 label of a spcdmen collected by the North I'lic fie Exploring Expeiition. 1 note this her* 

 because the bill is generally described as ''yellowish" and toshjw how pertiuent is Forster's ei- 

 pression ''incarnato. apice nigro." 



1866 ] 



