544 PROCELUARIIDA 
Sub-Family OCHANITIN A. 
WILSON’S PETREL. Oceanites oceanicus (Kuhl). 
Coloured Figures.—Dresser, ‘ Birds of Europe,’ vol. viii, pl. 614, 
fig. 1; Lilford,‘ Coloured Figures,’ vol. vi, pl. 56. 
Regarding the origin of this Petrel’s name Mr. Saunders 
writes: “This remarkably long-legged Petrel was noticed 
and figured as Procellaria pelagica by Wilson (Am. Orn. 
vil, p. 90, pl. lx. fig. 6) under the impression that it was 
identical with the Storm-Petrel; but the earliest scientific 
description of it was given by Kuhl in 1820. In 1824 Bona- 
parte published a memoir on this and three more species, 
HEAD OF WILSON’S PETREL. 
Nat. size. 
LEFT FOOT OF WILSON'S PETREL. 
Nat. size. 
with the distinctive characters, measurements, and figures 
of each; and, in ignorance of Kuhl's name, proposed to call 
the bird Procellarva wilsont, in honour of the distinguished 
ornithologist, whose name can, however, only be handed 
down. to posterity in the trivial appellation.” As a British 
bird, Wilson’s Petrel has occurred on several occasions, yet 
it must be looked upon only as a rare and casual visitor to 
our Isles. 
Among the earliest British records are those given by 
Gould, when numbers were seen off Land’s End in May, 
