PROCELLARIA. 437 



Genus PROCELLARIA. 



The genus Procellaria was recognized by Linuseus, iu the lith edition 

 of his ' Systema Naturae ' (i. p. 212). The Stormy Petrel, the Procellaria 

 pelagica of Linnseus, and the Procellaria procellaria of Brisson, is the 



type. 



The typical Petrels are small birds, with a length of wing from 4^ to 6^ 

 inches. The wings are long and pointed, but the second primary is the 

 longest. The tail is more than half the length of the wing, but is some- 

 times wedge-shaped, generally nearly even, and often forked. The tarsus 

 is alway much longer than the bill, and generally considerably longer than 

 the middle toe ; it is reticulated all round. The hind toe is almost obsolete. 

 The bill very closely resembles that of the Fulmars, the nasal tubes occu- 

 pying the basal half and the maxillary unguis the terminal half. 



There are about a dozen typical Petrels, which frequent the oceans 

 throughout the world, except in the Arctic Regions. Two only are 

 European, both of which breed on our coasts. 



In their habits, mode of nidificatiou, and in the number and colour of 

 their eggs they scarcely differ from the Fulmars or Shearwaters. 



