142 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4TH SER. 
I consider that Lesson’s type (preserved in the Natural His- 
tory Museum at Paris) and original description afford a better 
basis for determining the specific name of this species than 
Latham’s description of his Pacific Petrel, upon which Procel- 
laria pacifica Gmelin was founded.t “Length twenty-two 
inches” is in itself a sufficient discrepancy to disqualify 
Latham’s description. 
Although widely dispersed, the individuals of this species do 
not appear to be migratory, the different colonies apparently 
frequenting only the seas adjacent to their native islands. 
The Galapagos Expedition, as stated in Mr. Gifford’s notes, 
first encountered Wedge-tailed Shearwaters on July 23, 1905, 
in latitude 20° 59’ N., longitude 111° 57’ W. Only a few 
were seen then, but two days later they were common in lati- 
tude 19° 37’ N., longitude 111° 11° W. Two that were shot 
on wing were devoured by sharks before they could be re- 
covered from the water. The rookery on San Benedicto Island 
was visited on July 26, and was found to be in a flourishing 
condition. Although the season was advanced, no downy 
young were discovered; the eggs, however, as a rule were 
hard-set. In some instances two old birds without an. egg 
occupied a burrow. The burrows were about four feet in 
length and rarely had more than one turn. As Clipperton 
Island was neared, these shearwaters became scarce. August 
10 seven of the light phase, apparently superannuated birds, 
were found on the island—three in caves and four on the bank 
of the lagoon. They were the last individuals observed during 
the outward voyage. On the return voyage the first were seen 
on September 28, 1906, in latitude 7° 23’ N., longitude 97° 48’ 
W. Thereafter they were met with daily for nearly three 
weeks. They were most numerous on October 8 in latitude 
14° 40’ N., longitude 109° 26’ W. The last one was left 
astern on October 18 in latitude 16° 55’ N., longitude 112° 
5) WY 
The diary of Mr. Alexander Sterling Bunnell, who accom- 
panied the Academy’s Revilla Gigedo Expedition of 1903, con- 
tains the following notes on the San Benedicto colony: 
May 15, 1903. Toward sunset the Wedge-tailed Shear- 
waters came by thousands from the ocean and down from the 
(V/ECH Mathews, Birds Austrw 2 pp 7areol”) 9) Oey eae 
