354 



longer than the middle pair; tibia partly nude, tarsi smooth, not 

 scutellated, much longer than the toes ; the hind toe only repre- 

 sented by a minute claw ; basal phalanx of middle toe not 

 flattened and shorter than the other phalanges and the claw 

 together ; claws sharp, spatulate, but little flattened. 



This genus ranges throughout the Southern Oceans and into the 

 North Temperate zone. Two species are known, of which one is 

 probably the common small Petrel of the Indian seas, 



1530. Oceanites oceanicus. Wilson's Stormy Petrel. 



Frocellaria oceaniea, Kuhl, Beitr. p. 136, pi. x, fig. 1 (1820). 



Procellaria wilsonii, Bonap. Jour. A<-. Phil, iii, p. 231, pi. 9 (1823). 



? Thalassidroma sp., Jerdon, B. I. iii, p. 827; Hume, S. F. ii, p. 317; 

 Leffffe, S. F. iii, p. 375. 



Thalassidroma wilsoni, Butler, S. F. v, p. 291. 



Oceanites oceanicus, .Bonap. Consp. Av. ii, p. 199 (1857); Hume, 

 S. F. v,p. 291 ; Hume $ Dav. S. F. vi, p. 490; Butler, S. F. vii, 

 )\ 178; Hume, Cat. no. 976; Le'/ye, Birds Ceyl. p. 1050; Oate*, 

 B. B. ii, p. 437 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 421 ; Salvin, Cat. B. M. 

 xxv, p. 358. 



Fig. 82. Head of 0. oceanicus. |. 



Coloration. Sooty-black, rather paler and browner beneath and 

 oh the forehead ; greater secondary wing-coverts greyish brown ; 

 upper tail-coverts and lower flanks, together with the shafts and 

 extreme bases of the lateral rectrices, white. 



Irides blackish ; bill, legs, and feet black ; centres of webs 

 between toes pale yellow (Butler). 



Length 7'5 ; tail 2'6 ; wing 6-25 ; tarsus 1-4 ; bill from gape -65. 



Distribution. Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Not rare in the 

 seas around India. Specimens have, however, so far only been 

 identified from, the Mekran coast. 



Habits, $c. Like the other Stormy Petrels, this bird is generally 

 seen far from laud, singly or in scattered flocks, skimming over 

 the waves or resting on the sea. It breeds on stony or rocky 

 islands. 



Genus CYMODROMA, Eidgway, 1884. 



A near ally of Oceanites, distinguished principally by having 

 the basal phalanx of the middle toe greatly flattened, and 

 equalling or exceeding the other phalanges and the claw in 



