252 THE ANIMALS OP NEW ZEALAND 



make the tail appear forked. The cry is something like the bleat- 

 ing of a lamb. They are very common at sea from May to 

 August, but retire to breed in September or October. 



The brown petrel is by far the best diver of all the sea-going 

 petrels. It seems even to be fond of diving, and often remains 

 under water for several minutes, then it comes up again shaking 

 the water off its feathers like a dog. Sometimes, as it flies past a 

 vessel, it will poise itself for a moment in the air at a height of 

 twenty or twenty-five feet above the sea, and, shutting its wings, 

 take a header into the water. It dives with its wings open, and 

 uses them under water much in the same manner as when 

 flying. 



It is sometimes called "Bully" by sailors, and is very plentiful 

 in the South Pacific Ocean, between New Zealand and Cape 

 Horn. 



Genus Priocella. 



This genus differs from Priofinus in having fourteen tail 

 feathers. 



The Silver-grey Petrel. 



Priocella glacialoides. 



Above pale grey, below white. Bill yellow, the nasal-tube and the tip 

 dark. Legs and feet flesh colour. Length of the wing, 12.6 in.; of the 

 tarsus, 1.8 in. The true home of this bird is the ice-pack of the Antarctic 

 seas, and only stragglers reach New Zealand. 



Genus Majaqueus. 

 Bill long, stout, more or less pale coloured, the hook large ; the 

 nasal tubes almost united into a single opening directed forwards. 

 Tarsi rounded on the anterior edge. Tail rounded, composed of 

 twelve feathers. Southern Ocean. 



Key to the Species. 



Larger, chin white. M. eeduinoctialis. 



Smaller, chin black. M. parkinsoni. 



