Vot. II, Pr. II] LOOMIS—A REVIEW OF THE TUBINARES 123 
not upheld in the descriptions by constant characters, also 
Pufinus elegans Giglioli & Salvadori with a question, its 
status being open to doubt. 
I do not agree with Mr. Gregory M. Mathews in his re- 
jection of Gmelin’s obscura as the specific name of this 
species." The Leverian Museum specimen (preserved in the 
Imperial Museum at Vienna’) and Latham’s description seem 
to me to be a sufficient warrant for retaining the name. The 
two inches difference in length, stated by Latham to exist 
between the Leverian and the other specimen at his com- 
mand, may have been due im part to the make-up of the speci- 
mens. However, the discrepancy does not exceed the limits 
of geographic variation in this species. Even the variation in 
eighteen Galapagos females, measured in the flesh, reaches 
25 mm. Furthermore, the length of the bill, measured along 
the cutting edge, in some specimens equals Latham’s dimen- 
sion: “Bill an inch and a half.” 
According to Mr. Gifford, the Dusky Shearwaters of the 
Galapagos colony apparently do not wander far from their 
birthplace. None were seen beyond latitude 5° 30’ N., longi- 
tude 87° 5’ W. and latitude 2° 29’ S., longitude 90° 4° W. 
Throughout the archipelago they were very common, haunt- 
ing alike the sheltered bays and coves and the open sea. They 
probably breed on most of the islands, although eggs or 
downy young have been reported from only three. The Ex- 
pedition found at Hood Island a fresh egg and a nestling on 
September 28, a nestling on October 2, fresh and incubated 
eggs on February 1, fresh eggs on February 6, and nestlings 
on June 25. Moreover, two birds were seen to enter holes in 
a cliff on Champion Island in February and one was noted 
in a hole in a cliff on Indefatigable Island in July. Messrs. 
Snodgrass and Heller record a single egg taken in December 
on Wenman Island* and Lord Rothschild and Dr. Hartert 
state that downy young were found on the same island in 
February* and a great many eggs on Culpepper Island in 
July.” It appears, therefore, that relays protract the breeding 
season, with the laggards causing it to cover most, if not all, 
1 Birds Austr., v pp. 64-68: compare my remarks under P. opisthomelas. 
Ibis, 1873, p. a7: atten Ausir.. v. 2, p. 64. 
8 Proc. Wash. Acad. Sci.. Ts Ss oy Sail 
*Nov. Zool., v. 9. p. 414. 
5 Tbid., v. 6, 9. 196. 
