110 DRS. HARTLAUB AND FINSCH ON BIRDS [Jail. 16, 



difference from P. opisthomelas : the dark colour extends in both 

 below the lores and eyes ; the under tail-coverts are fuliginous black, 

 &c. In respect to colour our species is also closely allied with P. 

 anylorum, Temm., but this latter has only the outer row of the 

 under tail-feathers black on the outer web, and is nearly as large as 

 P. opisthomelas. 



To this last-named species belongs Puffiaus obscurus, Vieill. Gal. 

 Ois. t. 301 (tab. sol. excl. descr.). 



We are not fully acquainted with the geographical distribution of 

 P. dichrous, having only seen specimens from the Pelews and 

 M'Kean's Island. Schlegel notices it from Bourbon, and also a spe- 

 cimen (said to be one of the types of Temminck's P. obscurus) from 

 the Atlantic ; but this latter locality requires confirmation. 



This species is the P. obscurus of Kuhl, Teinminck, and Schlegel, 

 and perhaps of Degland and Gerbe, who confounded it, as nearly all 

 authors do, with the true Pr. obscura of Latham and Gmelin. In 

 respect to this latter very confused species we are able to give some 

 notes, which perhaps will be of some use : — 



Puffinus obscurus (Gmel.). 



Dusky Petrel, Lath. Gen. Syn. iv. p. 416 (Christmas Island). 



Procetlaria obscura, Gmel. S. N. ft. 559 (ex Lath.) ; Bechst. Lath. 

 Trans, iii. p. 364 (inaccur.); Lath. Lid. Urn. ii. p. 828; Vieill. Enc. 

 Meth.i. p. 81 (ex Lath.) ; id. Gal. Ois. p. 230 (nee tab. 30 1 ). 



Pvffinus obscurus, Reiclib. Schwimmxbg. Novit. t. vi. f. 2250, 2251 

 (ex Mus. Dresd.) ; Bp. Consp. ii. p. 202 (ex Lath., syn. excl.) ; Verr. 

 MS. (Madagascar) ; Hartl. iVIadag. p. 84 (excl. syn.). 



Nectris yama (nee Bp ), Hartl. Madag. p. 84 (excl. syn.). 



1 Procellaria obscura, Schleg. & Pollen, R.ech. Faune Madag. p. 161 

 (syn. Neclr. yama, Haiti.). 



This species, black above, white beneath, may lie distinguished at 

 once by the uniform pure white under tail-coverts ; the black on the 

 upper parts does not reach beyond the loieal and auricular regions ; 

 the tarsus and feet.are yellowish, with the external toe and outside of 

 tarsus partially black. 



M. Jules Verreaux, in his excellent manuscript notes, describes 

 this species from Madagascar, Bourbon, and Mauritius, whence he 

 received specimens through Telfair, Desjardin, and Sganzin. A spe- 

 cimen in the Stuttgart Museum, from Madagascar, has been referred 

 by Dr. llaitlaub to Nectris yama ; but the Hue A", yama, Bp. (Consp. 

 ii. p. 2U2) is different, although a very doubtful species. 



I have examined the Madagascar specimen in the Stuttgart Mu- 

 seum (labelled P. baillonii), and noticed the external lateral under 

 tail-coverts on the outer web black. — F. 



P. obscurus inhabits the Indian Ocean (Christmas Island, Latham ; 

 Madagascar, B urbon, Mauritius, Verr.). As regards its occur- 

 rence in Europe, as first mentioned by Temminck ('Alpes du Pie- 

 niont"), and America, we have no trustworthy evidence. Schlegel 

 (Vogels van Nederland, p. ;')85) says, " several times obtained on 

 our shores;" but later (Mus. P.-B. p. 30), "Je ne counais pas 



