Ld 
766 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
feeder, and hardly anything comes amiss to it; but it seems to be 
especially fond of the abandoned carcasses of whales and seals. 
This species pursues the Greater Shearwater, probably with the 
view of compelling it to disgorge any prey that it has captured.” 
Senor Anchieta has procured it in the Bay of Mossamedes. 
General colour throughout, deep brown-black ; bill livid. Length, 
2’ 10"; wing, 21”; tail, 11”. 
Fig. latham, Gen. Syn. vi, pl. 100. 
742. Masaqugus mquinocriatis (L.). Cape Hen. 
The ‘‘ Cape Hen” is a constant resident in Table Bay, though the 
majority leave us at one season of the year to breed. It cruises 
among the shipping and wharves, looking out for stray scraps 
washing about, on which it feeds. It extends far out to sea, and 
may be met with for some distance up both east and west coasts. 
It breeds on the Crozette Islands. 
The eggs are pure white, rather rdunded at each end: axis, 3’ 2’; 
diam., 2” 2’. 
Mr. Rickard has seen it from the vicinity of Port Elizabeth. 
General colour throughout, deep brown-black, with chin, and 
more or less of the top of the throat, pure white. Length, 21”; 
wing, 154”; tail, 64”. 
743. AXsTRELATA MOLLIS (Gould). Soft-plumaged Petrel. 
This Petrel is common along the southern coast of this colony, to 
the eastward. It is found far out at sea, and its flight is peculiarly 
rapid and graceful. It is generally seen in small companies, although 
each appears to hunt, and dwell apart. 
General colour above, dark cinereous brown, darkest on the wing 
and tail-feathers. A narrow collar of the same extends across the 
chest; forehead more or less mottled; under parts white, slightly 
mottled on the flanks and under tail-coverts. Length, 12”; wing, 
10”; tail, 54”. 
Fig. Gould, B. Austr. vii, pl. 50. 
744, AMsTRELATA MAcROPTERA (Smith). Long-winged Petrel. 
Procellaria macroptera, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 360. 
Dr. Smith states simply that “this is a rare bird in the Cape 
