416 THE TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS — TUBLNAKES. 



Oceanites oceanicus. 



WILSON'S PETREL. 



Procellaria pelagica, Wii.s. Am. Orn. VI. 1808, 90, pi. 60 (not of Lixn.). 



Procellaria oceanica, Kuhl, Beitr. Zool. 1820, Monog. Proc. 136, pi. 10, fig. 1. 



Thalassidroma oceanica, Gray, Gen. B. III. 1849. 



Oceanites oceanica, Coues, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1864, 82; Key, 1872, 329; Check List, 1S73, 

 no. 593. — Ridgw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 722. 



Oceanites oceanicus, Coues, 2d Check List, 18S2, no. 828. 



Thalassidroma Wilsoni, Bonap. Journ. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. III. 1823, 231, pi. 9. — Nutt. Man. II. 

 1834, 324. — Aud. Orn. Biog. III. 1835, 486 ; V. 1839, 645 ; B. Am. VII. 1844, 223, pi. 460. — 

 Lawk, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 831. — Baikd, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 644. 



Hais. Atlantic Ocean in general ; Australian seas. 



Sp. Char. Adult : Above, fuliginous-dusky, becoming black on the remiges and tail, and 

 fading into light brownish gray on the outer surface of the greater coverts and secondaries. Upper 



(m 





tail-coverts (including their extreme tips) and sides of the crissum pure white. Lower parts plain 

 fuliginous. Bill deep black ; legs and feet black, the webs marked with an oblong central space 

 of yellow. 



Wing, 5.70-6.20 inches; tail, 3.00-3.25 ; culmen, .45-.50; tarsus, 1.30-1.35; middle toe, .95-1.00. 



The species generally known in the books as "Wilson's Petrel is emphatically a 

 cosmopolite, and seems to be found very nearly over the whole watery expanse of 

 the globe, in south latitude and in north latitude, and in regions so far remote as 

 almost to warrant the conclusion that it must occur in the intervening spaces, and 

 that the absence of evidence of its presence can by no means be held to be conclusive 

 proof to the contrary. Its breeding-places have been, and to some extent remain, in 

 doubt. It is especially common throughout the month of August — but at no other 

 time, so far as I am aware — off the coast of North America from Newfoundland to 

 New Jersey, and probably farther south. It keeps close to the shore, comes into the 

 more open bays and harbors, and is readily attracted to the vicinity of vessels in 

 quest of food. Eggs purporting to belong to this species, said to have been taken 

 near Madeira, were received by Mr. Frere, of London. 



According to Mr. Godman, this species is abundant and resident about the Azores, 

 where its local name is Alma de Mestre. On his return from Flores to Fayal, being 

 becalmed for several hours, and there being a great many Petrels flying about, Mr. 

 Godman went out in a boat and shot several. They proved to be all of this species. 

 In flying, these birds carried their logs stretched out behind them, and their feet pro- 

 truding an inch beyond their tail — producing the effect of two long feathers. He 

 could not ascertain with positive certainty that this species breeds in this group of 

 islands, but as it is abundant there throughout the year, he has no doubt that this is 

 the case. 



