ON THE BIRDS OF GOUGH ISLAND, SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN. 285 



A considerable number of these " light brownish-grey petrels, skin No. 9," were seen 

 in the immediate vicinity of the island. 



This species has not a place in Verrill's list for Gough Island, nor did it come under 

 the notice of the CJiallenger naturalists at Tristan da Cunha, but Carmichael (t.c., 

 p. 497) records it under the name of Procellaria cinerea for the group. 



11. Majaqueus sequinoctialis (Linn.). 



One specimen was obtained, skin " No. 20, Gough Island," and similar " Black 

 Petrels " are recorded as having been observed. In the example obtained the bill was 

 yellowish, with the basal part of the culminicorn, its margins contiguous to the latericorn. 

 and its tip black ; the distal plate and the narrow median plate of the mandible black. 



This species does not appear to have been recorded hitherto from any of the islands 

 of the Tristan group. 



12. CEstrelata mollis (Gould). 



A great number of "Black-backed Petrels (skin No. 14)" were observed off the 

 island, and three examples which were secured are in the collection. In these specimens 

 the bill was black, the tarsus and basal half of the inner toe and of both webs were 

 pinkish white, the rest of the foot was deep brown. 



This species was not represented among the birds collected at Gough Island by 

 Mr Comer, and is not included in Verrill's list; but I think that it is probably the un- 

 known species there alluded to under the name of " Paddy unker," a " dark bird with 

 white breast and white feet," of which there is one egg, measuring 2'37 x T64 inches, 

 in Mr Comer's collection (Verrill, t.c., p. 449). 



<E. mollis has been recorded from Nightingale Island of the Tristan da Cunha group 

 (Salvin, Voy. " Challenger" : ZooL, ii. pt. viii. p. 144). 



13. \GEstrelata lessoni (Garnot). 



Mr Comer's collection contained an example from Kerguelen, and he states (Verrill, 

 t.c., pp. 448-464) that this "Mutton-bird" was also common at Gough Island. No 

 specimens were, however, obtained there, nor has the bird been recorded from Tristan 

 da Cunha. ] 



14. Ossifraga gigantea (Gmelin). 



Many " Nellies " were observed off the island, and one example, a female, was 

 obtained a remarkably dark specimen, without a trace of brown, its plumage being 

 throughout deep slaty grey, each feather (except the remiges, the greater wing-coverts, 

 and the tail) terminally or subterminally margined with a slightly paler tint. 



The Giant Petrel breeds at Gough Island, where Mr Comer (Verrill, t.c., pp. 447-8 

 and 464) says that it is not numerous, and commences to lay at the middle of September. 

 He tells us that it enters the penguin " rookeries. " and carries off the young to eat, and 



