THE GKEAT GREY SHEARWATER. 81 



Zealand and the neighbouring islands. We found it to be excellent eating, though 

 we had Anas superciliosa on the table at the same time with which to compare it. 

 We also fully appreciated Megalestris antarctica and Phalacrocorax colensoi, neither 

 of which was much inferior to the Grey Duck above mentioned, although that bird is 

 most highly esteemed in New Zealand and Australia for the table. 



PRIOFINUS CINEREUS. 



The Great Grey Shearwater. 



Procellaria cinerea, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i. (1788), p. 563. 



Priofinus cinerem, Gigl. Faun. Vert. Oceano, 1870, p. 34 ; Sharpe, Rep. ' South. Cross ' Coll. (1902), p. 142, 

 ibique citata. 



MATERIAL IN THE 'DISCOVERY'S' COLLECTION. 



No. 127, adult skin, $ . Nov. 2, 1901. 46 51' S. 89 28' E. 

 Colouring of the soft parts : 



Upper bill, dark greyish horn, the latericorn pale and yellowish, and in some birds even 



bright yellow. 

 Mandible, greyish horn at the tip, but otherwise pale yellow, both on the cutting edge 



and on the sides, a darker line dividing these parts. 

 Iris, dark brown. 

 Legs and toes, grey or flesh grey. 



Webs, flesh pink or even red by transmitted light, but otherwise grey, or flesh grey. 

 Claws, blackish horn. 

 The inside of the mouth is flesh red, the palate, fauces and tongue abundantly supplied 



with sharp horny papilla. 



Priofinus cinereus, the Great Grey Shearwater, is a very characteristic bird of the 

 Southern oceans, considerably larger than the Cape pigeon, grey or bluish grey all over 

 the upper parts, and white beneath ; it may be seen occasionally in the ship's wake 

 without drawing the attention of the casual observer. But one morning he will go on 

 deck to find the ship followed by the bird, perhaps in hundreds. Very hungry or very 

 greedy, they then afford much amusement as they drop suddenly beneath the surface of 

 the water with their wings spread to seize some scrap of food. They unhesitatingly go 

 completely under and reappear again with their wings still spread. We were visited 

 by such a flock on November 1, 1901, in the Southern Indian Ocean. Having 

 first seen it on September 25th, 1901, we had never had more than two or 

 three with us until this flock arrived. Many of them were evidently moulting, as 

 several of the smaller primaries were missing on either side. This exposed the paler 

 part of the primaries still present, and gave the appearance of a white patch and a piece 

 cut out from the centre of the wing. They may be caught and landed with stout thread 

 entanglements, but ordinary thread should not be used, as it is apt to entangle the bird 

 and break, leaving it disabled in the water. This large flock remained with us for 



