AVES PUFFINID^. 1 33 



leaves. Only one egg is laid ; and the male bird assists in the work of 

 incubation. They are savage whilst on the nest, biting and scratching 

 those who molest them. The young bird is singularly fat, and when 

 taken from the hole disgorges a quantity of oily matter of most offensive 

 smell. This, however, is esteemed a delicacy by the Maoris, who hold 

 the young birds over their mouths, allowing the substance to drain into 

 them. The old birds roost on shore, the noise they make during the 

 whole night being absolutely frightful, resembling an exaggerated chorus 

 of squalling children and love-making cats, in which the performers were 

 numbered by thousands. From the manner in which this noise was 

 intensified on each fresh arrival I could only conclude that the whole lot 

 were squalling out their adventures during the day. When taken out of 

 their holes they flutter about on the ground for some time, tumbling over 

 stumps in a confused manner, but ultimately make for the sea." (H. E. 

 Dresser, Bds. Europe, VIII. p. 525, 1877.) 



Genus PRIOFINUS Hombron & Jacquinot. 



Type. 



Priofinits, Hombr. & Jacq. Compt. Rend, xviii. p. 355 

 (1844); Jacq. & Puch. Voy. Pdle Sud. Zool. iii. p. 

 145, t. 32, figs. 9-14 (1853); Coues, Proc. Acad. Sci. 

 Philad. 1866, p. 192 ; Salvin, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus. XXV. 

 p. 390 (1896); Sharpe, Hand-List Bds. I. p. 124 

 (1899) P. cinereits. 



Adamasfor, Bp. Consp. Av. ii. p. 187 (1855); Coues, Proc. 



Acad. Sci. Philad. 1864, p. 119 P- cine fens. 



Geographical Range. — The Southern Oceans. 



Priofinus cinereus (Gmelin). 



Cinereits Fulmar, Lath. Gen. Syn. III. pt. 2, p. 405 (1785). 



Procellaria cineria, Gm. Syst. Nat. I. p. 563 (1788). 



Puffimts cinereus, Gould, Voy. Beagle, Birds, p.- 137 (184 1 : Tierra del 



Fuego : Chiloe : mouth of Plata : Port Famine) ; Hartl. Naum. 



1853, p. 222 (Chile); Phil. & Landb. Cat. Av. Chil. p. 46 (1868); 



