466 OBERHOLSER, Notes on N. A. Birds. III. thea 
an opportunity to determine the validity of the characters adduced 
for this separation. In the type specimen the wing formula is said 
by Messrs. Mathews and Iredale to differ from that of the other 
species of Oceanodroma in having the first (outermost) primary 
equal to the third, and much longer than the fourth. In one 
specimen we have examined, the first primary is very much shorter 
than the third and also decidedly shorter than the fourth. A 
similar discrepancy in the relative length of the primaries occurs 
in other species of Oceanodroma, such as Oceanodroma furcata and 
Oceanodroma leucorhoa, in which species the first is sometimes 
longer, occasionally shorter, than the fourth. From these facts 
we must conclude that the proportion of the primaries in birds 
of this group is of no value as a generic character. The tarsus in 
Oceanodroma hornbyi is almost exactly equal to the middle toe with 
claw, and is thus of the same proportions as in Oceanodroma leu- 
corhoa. The wings and tail are like those of Oceanodroma leucorhoa, 
and some of the tail-feathers are slightly scalloped at their tips, 
as is not infrequently the case in Oceanodroma leucorhoa, and 
commonly and most noticeably so in Oceanodroma furcata. The 
bill seems to be rather slender and relatively long, but in this 
respect it is practically equalled by some specimens of Oceanodroma 
leucorhoa and other species. In coloration this species is very 
different from all the other forms of the genus Oceanodroma, but 
since it seems to possess no peculiar trenchant structural characters, 
its generic separation on the ground of coloration alone seems to 
be unwarranted, and its name should, therefore, remain Oceano- 
droma hornbyt. 
This species is at present relegated to the hypothetical list of 
North American birds, on the ground that the alleged locality, 
“northwest coast of America,” is doubtful. Since, however, it is 
known that Admiral Hornby, who obtained the type specimen 
during the period of his command on the Pacific Station, had his 
headquarters on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, there seems 
to be no reasonable doubt of the correctness of the locality. In 
view of these facts, the species should be restored to a place in the 
regular list of North American birds. 
