Vol. XXXIV 
"i917 | +~=OBERHOLSER, The Genus Puffinus Brisson. 473 
descriptions of these two species, apparently without examining 
the type of either, comes to the conclusion that Puffinus auricu- 
laris and Puffinus opisthomelas are identical and’ that both refer 
to the bird from the Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico (Puffinus 
auricularis Townsend). He therefore renames the Puffinus 
opisthomelas of Coues and subsequent authors, with the following 
basis: “the species described but not figured in the Monograph 
of the Petrels (pp. 109 et. seg.) under the name of Puffinus opistho- 
melas Coues, and of which Anthony (Auk, Vol. XVII, p. 247, 
1900) notes: ‘extremely plentiful off the coast of California during 
the summer months, breeding rather commonly on Guadaloupe 
[sic], San Benito Islands, and Natividad Island.’”’ 
An examination, however, of the types of Puffinus opisthomelas 
Coues ! and Puffinus awricularis Townsend,’ as well as a comparison 
of both with material from Monterey, other parts of California, and 
from Lower California, at once discloses the fact that these types 
clearly represent the two distinct species with which current 
authors have identified them, and that, furthermore, these types 
typify the characters of the two species. The bird from Clarion 
Island, Revillagigedo Islands, western Mexico, Puffinus auricularis 
Townsend, differs from Puffinus opisthomelas Coues in its much more 
blackish upper surface, shorter, more blackish bill, smaller feet, 
and usually pure white axillars. The figure of Puffinus opistho- 
melas in Godman’s ‘ Monograph of the Petrels’ * does not represent 
a typical California bird, yet a specimen in the United States Na- 
tional Museum from Monterey Bay, California (No. 191015, 
U. S. N. M.), very closely matches it in color. While this speci- 
men is unusually dark, there is much individual variation in the 
coloration of the upper parts, and the type of Puffinus opistho- 
melas Coues, possibly in part on account of its age, is the palest 
specimen of our series! It is thus very evident that Puffinus 
couest Mathews becomes a synonym of Puffinus opisthomelas Coues, 
and that the latter name remains the proper designation of this 
species. Also the name Puffinus auricularis Townsend must be 
continued for the species to which it has always been applied. 
1 Puffinus opisthomelas Coues, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1864, p. 139 (Cape San Lucas, 
Lower California). 
2 Puffinus auricularis Townsend, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XIII, Sept. 9, 1890, p. 133 
(Clarion Island, Revillagigedo Islands, Colima, Mexico). 
3 Godman, Monograph Petrels, part 2, March, 1908, pl. 30. 
