PACHYPTILA BANKSI. 



which terminates the mandible : the lateral portions of the bill are separated 

 from the culmen by a deep longitudinal grove on each side, expand con- 

 siderably, particularly towards the angles of the mouth, and internally the 

 cutting edge of each is armed with a row of very fine, closely set membranous 

 laminae, disposed in a transverse direction. Tarsi rather slender, and 

 coated with irregular flat scales ; feet rather large, the anterior margin of the 

 web belonging to the outer and middle toes semicircular, that of the middle 

 and inner ones very oblique, a form necessary on account of the inferior length of 

 the latter toe; anterior claws slender and moderately curved, the posterior one 

 straight, short, and pointed, and supplies the place of the hinder toe. Wings 

 long, and when folded reach nearly to the apex of the tail ; the first quill feather 

 longest, the second slightly shorter, several of the others diminish in length 

 successively, but in a greater ratio. Tail rounded, the two centre feathers 

 being nearly an inch longer than the outei'most one of each side. 



DIMENSIONS 



Inches. Lines. 

 Length from the point of the bill to 



the tip of the tail 10 



of the bill from tlie angle of 



the mouth 1 4| 



of the wings when folded 7 9 



ofthetail 3 



Length of the tarsus 



of the outer toe... 

 of the middle toe 

 of the inner toe... 

 of the hinder toe 



Judging from an imperfect specimen of a male bird of this species, which 

 I once saw I am inclined to believe the colours are the same in both 

 sexes. 



This species is easily to be distinguished from Pachyptila vittata Illiger, Procellaria vittata 

 and cfprulea, Forst., P. Forsteri, Lath., by a variety of characters, but most readily by its bill : 

 the latter in our species is much narrower, and the sides less oblique ; the width at the base 

 is only seven lines, the width of P. Forsteri nine and a half; the sides of the bill in the latter 

 proceed more horizontally, and the bill itself is altogether much larger, and differently shaped ; 

 the circumstance of many of the scapulars of P. vittata being broadly tipped with white, also 

 furnishes a good diagnostic character. 



This bird appears to prefer the open sea to the vicinity of coasts, and though it occasionally 

 appears in the bays of the Cape peninsula during very stormy weather, yet it rarely continues in or 

 near them after the tempest which may have induced it to seek for the time a comparatively 

 placid retreat has subsided. It is constantly to be seen from vessels sailing along 

 the eastern coast, particularly during the winter season ; and it has often been a source 

 of amusement to me to watch how long and how perseveringly an individual of this species 

 would accompany a ship, even during blowing weather, without the appearance of having any 

 object in view, or of suffering any fatigue or inconvenience. It is rarely observed to settle on 

 the water, and if it does, it rarely continues passive longer than appears to be necessary to 

 enable it to seize and devour what may have induced it to rest. 



Tiie peculiar arrangement of the dull brownish-red colour, mentioned in the description of 

 the colours of the bird, gives to it when flying an appearance of having the wings and body 

 crossed by a dark coloured band. 



