NATURAL SCIENCES OF miLADELPHIA. 135 



C. A. Genus Majaqueua placed among the Puffinetv ; Pterodroma and Pa- 

 godroma among i\iQ ^'Estrelatece. — C R. Tliese three genera placed among the 

 Fulmarece. 



C. A. Priocella GnrnolU, H. and J. (= Thalassoica glacialoide!! according 

 to Gray) not recognized. — C. R. Given as a valid genus and species of Ful- 

 marece. 



C. A. Prnc. meridionalis Lawr. considered as a synonym of yEstrelata dia- 

 bolic'K — C. R. Given as a valid species of genus Fiil.inarus. 



C. A. Genus Adamaxtor founded and considered as a component of tlm 

 Fidmareiv, with tiipus Bp. (^ciiurra Gra.) scrireus Less, and //ar/ros^-Z.s Gould, 

 as its species.— C. R. Genus AdamaMor abandoned, axjd its tliree species dis- 

 tributed thus: — tj/pus (here called cinerea Gm.) is put under Priqfinus,* 

 among the Puffins ; fiaviroxtri.t and seric.ens (the latter queried as to validity) 

 are put under ^Estrelata of the " Rhantistete.'" 



C. A. Genus Conkilaria established with leucoptora Gould, vdox Poland., 

 solandri Gould, and mollis Gould, as its species. — C. R. Cookilaria abandoned, 

 Rliatitistes ex Kaupf taken, with Cnoldi Gray, vdox Sol. mollis, "unicolor," 

 "raolensis " Gould, and Li'ssoni Garnot as determined species ; rostrata,ji(tr- 

 rirostris Peale, (jrlida Gm. and sandaliata Sol. as doubtful species. 



C. A. Genus ^Estrehtta contains diaholica L'Herm. (syu. haesitata Temm. 

 Kuhl,) desnlata Gm. inexpectata Forst. {= moll is Gould) and leucocrjihala 

 Forst. (=Les.son if Garnot.) — 0. R. The same genus is marie to contain f//'/?>o/)"«t 

 L'Herm. hesitata Temm. (here considered distinct from diaholica,) sericea 

 Less. Jiavirostr is Gould, desolata Lath. ; with gularis and brevipes Peale, and 

 inexpictata Forst. as doubtful species. 



C. A. Genus Nectris Bp. emend, ex Forst. contains brevicauda Brandt, car- 

 tipipes Gould, fuliginosus Strickl. gama Bp. and tenuirosiris Temm.— C. R. 

 N'Ctris abandoned, and its species thus distributed : breviraudu'^ atid carneipes 

 are put with cincrcus Gm. imder Priojinus H. & J. ; fuiiginosa Strickl. is 

 made a queried synonym of Puifinus major Faber ; gama Bp. does not appear ; 

 while tenuirosiris is united with sphenurus, etc., under the genus Thielhis. 



However great the changes and innovations thus introduced, — which are 

 indeed " une foule des faits nouveaux relatifs a la classification, a la nomen- 

 clature, a la synonymic, et aux divers rapports des espcces," resulting " de 

 leur etude appiofondie "J between Dec. 1855 and April 1856, I am unwilling 

 to believe that the " Table " is drawn up with reference to the size and shape 

 of the Comptes Rendus page, rather than in accordance with truth. 



The numerous difficulties whirh beset us in the critical investigation of any 

 group of the Petrels, reach their maxiumm in the section now under considera- 

 tion. This is in a measure due to the habitat of most of the species — the 

 genera being essentially South Pacific and Antarctic in their distribution— which 

 renders the acquisition of siecimens difficult, at least in such numbers as to 

 enable extended comparisons to be instituted, and the great changes of plu- 

 mage which a majority of the species undergo with increasing age, to be fully 

 and accurately elucidated. Some are to this day known only by type speci- 

 mens ; while of many others we are no more familiar regarding variable 

 features of coloration, than to enable us to speak in the most general terms of 

 the changes undergone during progress towards maturity. But these are 

 among the minor evils to be contended with ; for Nature herself is jjerhaps 

 never so difficult of comprehension, as we often find our attempts to under- 

 stand her to be. And so the confounding of distinct species under one name 

 and description ; the making of nominal ones out of changes of plumage and 

 variations in size ; together with the misinterpretation by writers of the labors 



* Tl:is is an important cnrrection. '• Frififinus cinereus " is the proper name of the specits called 

 in the C. A. '^ Adama!:for typus." 



•f Thif DHine of Kaxip's is a synonym of Fulmarus I^each, 

 t Bp. C. R. April -^3, 185G, p. 767, 



1866.] 



