426 NATATORES. 



croaking noise there, it is made only during the night, as the 

 birds are absent nearly the whole day in quest of their food 

 when the weather is warm, unless till towards the close of the 

 incubation, at which time the female sits closely. 



This species is between seven and eight inches long, and 

 nearly nineteen in the extent of the wings. The tail is 

 forked, but not very deeply, and the tail-feathers are stiff, 

 expansile, and oblique at the tips, so that the fork forms an 

 obtuse re-entering angle. The tarsi are moderately long ; 

 and the toes, which are three, turned to the front and 

 webbed, are so freely articulated to the tarsi, that the whole 

 foot can turn backwards, almost till its position is reversed. 

 The bill is longer, stouter, and more bent in the nail of the 

 upper mandible than that of the common storm petrel. The 

 cloud wings reach to the point of the tail, but not beyond it. 

 The bill is black, and the general tint of the plumage black, 

 with a brownish or sooty tinge. The scapular feathers are 

 rather produced, and have white tips. The upper tail-coverts, 

 the bases of the under ones, and some of the rump feathers, 

 are also white. The tail feathers and primary quills quite 

 black, but some of the wing-coverts brownish, and sometimes, 

 as well as a few of the secondary quills, inclining to dull 

 white at the tips. It is probable that the light parts incline 

 to brown in summer, and to dull white in winter ; but the 

 fact is not fully established. The habits of the bird, either 

 on the water or in its breeding-places, have not been much 

 observed. The form, size, and termination of the tail, and 

 the greater strength of the bill, would, however, lead to the 

 conclusion, that the style of flight and habits in feeding are 

 different from those of its congener. A figure, on a scale of 

 one-third of the lineal dimensions, is given upon the plate at 

 page 347.* 



* This is the Thalas.ndroma Leachii of most authors. See Gould's 

 " Birds of Europe." M. 



