BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 165 



what fine; surface minutely pitted; with or without a faint trace 

 of gloss; colour pure white. Dimensions in mm. vary from 

 48-50 x 35-37. 



Breeding Season. October and November. 



Geographical Distribution. Seas of Tasmania, Australia, and 

 New Zealand; also the Atlantic Ocean as far as Madeira. 



Observations. The Allied Petrel does not breed off the Tas- 

 manian Coast, but does so in some numbers on the Abrolhos 

 Islands, Western Australia. In its general economy it closely 

 resembles the other members of the genus Ptiffinus. 



FLESHY-FOOTED PETREL 

 (Pujfinus carneipes, Gould). 



Male. Upper surface, including head, sooty-black; tail black; 

 quills darker black than upper surface ; ear coverts slightly tinged 

 with ashy-grey; whole of the under surface sooty-brown; cheeks 

 and throat only tinged with grey. The bill is variously described 

 as being " fleshy-white, the culmen and tips of the mandibles 

 brown," " flesh-colour with a yellowish tinge," " the tip brownish- 

 black," "dark brown," "yellow horn colour, brownish-black at 

 the tips of both mandibles and along the culmen to the opening 

 of the nostrils." The feet are likewise variously described as 

 being "yellowish flesh colour," "dull flesh colour," "pale flesh 

 colour," and "flesh colour." Dimensions in mm.: Length, 

 about 485; bill, 40; wing, 310; tail, 113; tarsus, 55. 



Female.- Similar to male. 



Nest. A burrow some 4 to 8 feet in length. 



Eggs. Clutch one; inclined to oval in shape; texture some- 

 what coarse; surface slightly glossy and minutely pitted; colour 

 pure white. Dimensions in mm. : 66 x 43. 



Breeding Season. November and December. 



Geographical Distribution. Seas of Tasmania (?) and probably 

 the southern coast generally, Western Australia, New Zealand, 

 and northwards to Japan. 



Observations. It is somewhat doubtful whether this species 

 really does frequent Tasmanian waters. It obtains its vernacular 

 name from its flesh-coloured feet. Although it ranges to Japan, 

 it has never been found breeding there, nor yet in the intervening 

 area. According to the late Sir W. Buller. the Fleshy-footed 

 Petrel breeds in large colonies off the coast of New Zealand. 



SHORT-TAILED PETREL (MUTTON-BIRD) 



(Puffinus lenuirostris, Temm.) 



Male. Upper surface, including head, sooty-black; tail black; 

 quills black ; some of the wing coverts and secondaries shaded with 

 brown; under surface sooty-brown, the feathers faintly edged 



