858 BIBDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



662. PufflnUS Oinerems, Gmel ; Procellaria Puf- 

 Jlnus et Ginhrea, Linn., Zool. S. Af., PI. 5 6. 



Above fuscus, tinged with yellowish-brown ; below cinereous- 

 brown ; wing and tail-feathers, and lower tail-coverts, brown j 

 bill livid-brown ; at the tip, yellowish-brown ; front of the 

 tarsi yellow, brown behind, and externally reddish -brown ; 

 eyes brown. Length, 17"; wing, 11" 9"'j tail, 3" 10"'. 



The above description by Dr. Smitli is taken from a young specimen. 

 He states tbey are common in the Cape seas ; but I never met with 

 them. 



Genus THALASSIDROMA, Vigors. 

 Bill shorter than the head, slender, weak, the sides much 

 compressed, and slightly grooved, with the tip suddenly 

 hooked and acute ; the lower mandible shorter than the upper, 

 the tip arched, with the gonys hardly angular beneath ; the 

 nostrils elevated above the culmen at its base, tubular, with a 

 single aperture in front ; wings long and pointed, with the 

 first quill shorter than the third, and the second the longest ; 

 tail emarginated, or more or less forked ; legs long, slender, 

 with the naked space of the tibia extensive ; tarsi longer than 

 the middle toe ; all the toes rather short, the outer one nearly 

 equal with the middle, and the inner one the shortest ; the 

 hind toe only in the form of a triangular claw. 



663. Thalassidroma Melanogaster, Gould. ; 



Th. Grallaria, Licht., Cat. Dup. Berl. Mus., No. 764 ; 

 Pro. Oceanica, Pr. Bonap. nee Temm., PI. Enl. 993, 



General colour throughout, brownish-black ; belly white, 

 divided down, the centre by a black stripe*, rump and sides 

 behind the thighs, pure-white ; legs, feet, and webs between 

 the toe, black. Length, 8|" ; wing, 6" 5"' ; tail, 3". 



Not uncommon ofF Cape L'Ap;ullas and on the South-Eastern Coast. 

 While cruising with Admiral Trotter in the old Castor frigate, the 

 boats being always at my disposal, I olitained many specimens of this 

 and other species of birds inhabiting the Cape seas. Indeed, most of my 

 knowledge of our oceanic birds is duo to the opportunities so kindly 

 afforded me by my kind and noble old friend, now, alas ! no more. 



664. Thalassidroma Leucogaster, Gould ; 



Birds of Australia. 



Resembles preceding- fi^ecies in size and colour, with tho 

 exception of being rather lighter, and the white of the belly 

 not divided by a black stripe ; the toes also are shorter. 



Obtained by His Excellency Sir George Gi'ey in the Cape seas. 

 The only specimen that has fallen under my notice was kindly 



