94 DR. A. CARTE ON A NEW PETREL. [Feb. 13j 



Colour. — Head, neck, back, and wings of a uniform dark sooty 

 brown ; vertex and external webs of the primaries a shade or so 

 darker ; abdominal feathers and under tail-coverts a shade or two 

 lighter than those of the back ; upper tail-coverts and basal portion 

 of I ail- feathers of a light grey or dirty white. 



This light-coloured patch on the rump is conspicuous when the 

 wings are expanded, but completely concealed when they are closed. 



Irides dark hazel. Tarsi, toes, webs, and nails jet-black. 



Dimensions. . , 



inches. 



Length, from point of bill to tip of tail, about 1 2f 



Expanse of wings 34 



Length from carpal joint to tip of first primary 10-| 



Length of bill, measured from the gape If 



of nasal tubes t\ 



of interval between nostrils and commencement 



of apical curve of upper mandible | 



of tarsi l-To 



of toes, outer and middle, subequal 2 



of inner toe If 



First and second primaries subequal, and about | inch 



longer than the third. Tail about 4| inches long and 



round at extremity. The closed wings extend about 



1| inch beyond the tail. Hallux small, and in shape 



triangular. 



This bird evidently belongs to that section of the Procellariince to 

 which Bonaparte* has assigned the name of Pterodroma, and, of the 

 three species mentioned by him of this subgenus, appears to bear 

 a close resemblance to P. macroptera, Smith, but differs from it in 

 being somewhat smaller in size, and especially in having the basal 

 portion of the tail and upper tail-coverts of a grey or dirty-white 

 colour. This latter peculiarity will also serve as a distinguishing 

 mark for it from P. fuliginosa, Banks, P. atlantica, Gould, and 

 indeed from all the known species of this subgenus. 



With respect to the habits of the bird, Mr. March has most kindly 

 furnished me with the following interesting details : — 



" It is a night-bird, living in burrows in the marly clefts of the 

 mountains at the east and north-east end of the island. 



"The burrows form a gallery 6 to 10 feet long, terminating in a 

 chamber sufficiently commodious to accommodate the pair ; from this 

 they sally forth at night, flying over the sea in search of food (fishes), 

 returning before dawn. 



"It is often seen on moonlight nights and at sunrise running 

 about the neighbourhood of its domicile, and sometimes crossing the 

 road regardless of the labourers going to their work. I know nothing 

 of its nidification. 



"The first specimen recorded was obtained by the late George 



* Vide Conspectus Generani Avium, torn. ii. p. 191. 



