360 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA^ 



667. Procellaria Gigantea, Gmei. ; Lath. Syn., 



t. 100. 



General colour througliout, deep brown-black ; bill livid. 

 Length, 2' 10" ; wing, 21" ; tail, U". 



Tho Glpnt Petrel is couimon in Table Bay, and all along our coasts, 

 tbrouglioul the year. Thoufjh very plp.ntifui beyond the shipping in 

 the oaj , it nevM' approaches the shore or wharves — certainly not from 

 the fcor of man, because when a boat cruises about the bay, it is sure 

 to pay it a visit and examine its inmates closely. A white variety is 

 couimou up the "V7e3t Coast towaids Walwieh Bay. It is called " the 

 Nelly" by sailors. Some of them have here' and there a black feather. 

 Egfijs of this species measure: axis, 4" 3'"; diam., 21' 8'"; pure white, 

 rough to the touch, and rather pointed at each end. They retain the 

 strong smell of the bird for a long period. 



668. Procellaria -ffiquinoctialis, Linn.; Ed. 



Birds, PI. 89 ; Smith, Zool. S. Af. ; Procellaria Fuli- 

 ginosa, Sol. M. S. Less., Vol. 2, p. 348 ; Blach White- 

 throated Petrel ; Cape Hen of Sailors. 



General colour throughout, deep brown-black, with chin, 

 and more or less of the top of the throat, pure- white. Length, 

 21" ; wing, 151" ; tail, 6i". 



The "Cape Hen" is a constant resident in Table Bay, though the 

 majority leave us at one season of the year to breed. It ciiiises among 

 the shipping and wharves, looking out for stray scraps washing about, 

 on which it fe^^^s. It extends far out to sea, and may be met with for 

 some distance up both East and West Coasts. 



The Vc.riety or species, P. Larvata, Lesson, P. Conspicularis, 

 Godld, having a white band over the top of the head and round the 

 cheek, never appears in South African waters, not coming so far north. 

 I believe it to be quite distinct from P. JEquinoctialis. The eggs of 

 the latter arc pure white, rather rounded at each end : axis, 3" 2'" ; 

 diam., 2" 2.'" 



669. Procellaria Macroptera, Smith, Zooi. s. 



A£, PL 52. 



The whole plumage intermediate between brownish-red and 

 liver-brou'n ; poveral of the scapulars and interscapulars nar- 

 rowly tipped with yellowish-brown ; the feathers of the head, 

 neclv, and body, silvery- white towards their base, with a satin 

 lustre ; bill rich-black ; tarsi, toes, and interdigital mem- 

 brane, liver-brown, the two first tinted lak©-red. Length, 

 17"; wing, 13" 9"'; tail, 6". 



Dr. Smith states simply that " this is a rare bird in the Cape seas." 

 I obtained a single specimen of it off the Cape in 1856, while cruising 

 in H. M. Frigate Castor, Commodore Trotter. 



