248 ZOOLOGY. 



With the considerable exception of the white mark- 

 ings on its head, this bird approaches closely to P. 

 fuliginosa, of which species it may probably be a va- 

 riety. I am the more inclined to think that it is so, on 

 account of my having taking two examples of a female 

 petrel (the one off the Cape of Good Hope, and the 

 other near Cape Horn,) which were only to be distin- 

 guished from P. fuliginosa by the plumage of their chin 

 being white. 



THE WHALE-BIRD. 

 fPrion Pachyptila.) 



This is also an oceanic bird, or " great sailer." It is 

 rare, compared with most other southern sea-fowl, and 

 is only to be met with off the two principal southern 

 Capes. Although a distinct family has been assigned 

 to this species, the form of the beak, and a sessile spur 

 on the heel, would denote it to be one of the petrel 

 tribe. It is small in size, but very elegantly formed. 

 The head and entire upper surface of the body, as well 

 as the tail, are lavender-colour; the abdomen white; 

 the beak olive-green; the legs light-blue; the eyes 

 black and prominent. Its entire length is eleven 

 inches ; spread of the wings twenty-three. The contents 

 of the stomach, in the examples we obtained, were vast 

 numbers of small shrimps. 



This bird has a quick mazy flight, and skims the 

 seas like the stormy-petrel. It is supposed to be an 

 attendant upon whales, or an indication of their places 

 of resort, whence its trivial name. 



THE BLUE-NODDY, OR REEF-BIRD. 



(Sterna Cerulea, N. Sp. ?) 

 Plumage light-blue or slate-colour; three quill 



