256 



THE ANIMALS OF NEW ZEALAND 



Genus CEstrelata. 



Bill rather short, deep and black ; the hook large ; nasal opening 

 directed slightly upwards. Tail moderate, rounded, with twelve 

 feathers. Tai*si rounded. Claw of the hind toe small. Temperate 

 and tropical oceans. 



Key to the Species. 



1. Exposed portion of the outer primary dark beneath. 2 

 Exposed portion of the outer primary white near the 



base of the inner web. 4 



2. Brown below. CE. macroptera. 

 White below. 3 



3. Head white. CE. lessoni. 

 Head grey. CE. nigripennis. 



4. Under wing coverts dark. CE. neglecta. 

 Under wing coverts white. 5 



5. Wing over 11 inches. 6 

 Wing under 9 inches. 7 



6. Abdomen white. CE. cervicalis. 

 Abdomen grey. CE. inexpectata. 



7. Axillaries white. CE. cooki. 

 Axillaries lilack. CE. axillaris. 



The Grey-faced Petrel. — Oi. 



CEstrelata macroptera. 



Dark sooty brown, with a grey face. Bill and feet black. Length 

 •of the wing, 12 inches; of the tarsus, 1.65 inch. Egg — 2.G in. in length. 

 Southern Ocean. 



The grey-faced petrel breeds in holes in the ground on the 

 islands in Hauraki G-ulf and Bay of Plenty, the holes being near 

 the bottom of the cliffs. The eggs are laid in July to September. 

 At sea this bird is solitary and wild, never coming near a vessel ; 

 and on the wing it looks like a large swift. 



The White-headed Petrel. 



Q^strclata lessoni. 



Back and tail grey. Wings black. Head and under surface white, 

 with a black line through the eye. Length of the wing, 12 inches; of 

 the tarsus, 1.8 inch. Egg — 2.8 inches in length. Southern Ocean. 



This bird breeds in holes on the Antipodes Island. Eggs are 

 laid in January. It is solitary and Avild, like the grey-faced 

 petrel. 



