198 FroceecUngs of the Royal Physical Society. 



34. (Estrelata mollis, Gould — Soft-plumaged Petrel. — E"ot 

 very common ; generally seen in the South Atlantic from Lat. 

 15° to 20° S. It has very long wings, and flies swiftly and 

 gracefully. It seems shy, and never comes near the coast. 



35. (Estrelata macroiJtcra (Smith) — Long-winged Petrel. — 

 I once saw two off Duyker Point, South Africa. 



36. Halohmna ccendea(Gm.) — Blue Petrel, IceBird. — Pretty 

 common on the Cape coast and north as far as Lat. 25° S. 



37. Procellaria atlantica, Gould — Sooty Petrel. — This 

 species, distinguished from the giant petrel by its smaller 

 size, brown colour, and the absence of the white patch under 

 the bill, is generally seen far out at sea from Lat. 15° to 33° S. 



38. Bithoeria cohimbina (Moq.-Tand.) — Bulwer's Petrel. — 

 I have only seen this bird near Madeira and the neighbour- 

 ing island of Porto Santo. I have frequently passed these 

 islands without seeing a single specimen, and at other times 

 I have seen five or six together. They appear to have rather 

 longer wings in proportion than the stormy petrel; their 

 flight is swift and easy. 



39. MajaqueiLS mquinoctialis (L.) — Black Petrel, Cape Hen. 

 — Very common on the coast, and at the anchorages of East 

 London and Natal. They are very bold and fearless, coming- 

 close alongside vessels to pick up stray morsels, but will not 

 take a hook readily, as they appear to see the line attached. I 

 have never seen them in high south latitudes, or very far north- 

 west of the Cape. Their peculiar petrel odour is very strong. 



40. Daption capensis (Linn.) — Cape Pigeon. — Is not so 

 common about the Cape as its name would lead one to 

 suppose. It is most numerous in Lat. 40° to 45° S. in the 

 track of Australian vessels, which it follows in large numbers, 

 and is often caught. It is very tame, and in a calm will 

 come close alongside vessels to pick up morsels of food, 

 anything of a fatty nature being greedily devoured. Like 

 other petrels it dives for short distances when swimming, 

 and with outspread wings. I have seen one caught and 

 placed in a tub of sea water, when at first it would eat 

 nothing, but upon several others being caught and placed 

 beside it, there was a general scramble for the food. These 

 birds, as well as the albatross, always appear more hungry 



