NOTES AND EEFEKENOES. 



0- 



8. Strepeba cbissalis, Gould, MSS., Sharpe, Brit. Mus., Cat. Bds., Vol. 

 III., p. 58, pi. ii. Hub. Lord Howe Island. The chief characteristic 

 of S. GRissALis, appears to be in the colouring of the under tail 

 coverts, and the basal portion of the rectrices, which parts are 

 described by Mr. Sharpe as being resi^ectively l)nffy-white and pale 

 rufous ; these tints, however, are not constant in all specimens fi-om 

 that locality, since in many recently received these parts ai-e pure white 

 as in S. graculina ; there must be then either two distinct species 

 found on Lord Howe Island, viz., S. graculina and S. cbissalis, or 

 what is more probable the buffy colouring is merely an accidental 

 staining of these parts. A violet discolouration is sometimes found 

 in sj^ecimens of Strepera obaculina, shot in the neighbourhood of 

 Sydney, this being occasioned by the birds feeding upon a species of 

 ink-weed (Phytolacca): 



Procellaria atlantica, Gould; P. phillipii, G. R. Gray; P. gigantea, 

 Gmelin, are recorded from iforfolk Island, but the descriptions of 

 these birds as given by Gray and Gould are so meagre and indefinite 

 that it is impossible to ascertain to what species they refer ; the 

 present bird No. 52, agrees best with Procellaria gouldii of Ilutton. 



