312 LEAST PETREL. 
the fishermen are constantly passing over their heads (the beach under 
which they breed being appropriated for the drying of fish), they are 
then seldom heard, but toward night become extremely querulous ; and 
when most other birds are gone to rest, issue forth in great numbers, 
spreading themselves far over the surface of the sea. The fishermen 
then meet them very numerously ; and though they have not pre- 
viously seen one, are sure to be surrounded by them upon throwing 
pieces of fish overboard.” 
The egg measures one inch and an eighth in length, six and a half 
eighths in breadth, is nearly equally rounded at both ends, rather thick- 
shelled, and pure white, but generally with numerous minute dots of 
dull red at the larger end, sometimes forming a circular band. 
ProcEtiaria PELAGICA, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 212.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. 
p. 826. 
Stormy Perret, Nutiall, Manual, vol. i. p. 327. 
Adult Male. Plate CCCXL. Fig. 1. 
Bill shorter than the head, slender, compressed towards the end, 
straight, with the tips curved. Upper mandible with the nostrils 
forming a tube at the base, beyond which, for a short space, the dorsal 
line is nearly straight, then suddenly decurved, the sides declinate, the 
edges sharp, the tip compressed and acute. Lower mandible with the 
angle rather long, narrow, and pointed, the dorsal line beyond it very 
slightly concave and decurved, the sides erect, the edges sharp, the tip 
slightly decurved. 
Head of moderate size, roundish, anteriorly narrowed. Neck short. 
Body rather slender. Feet of moderate length, very slender; tibia 
bare at its lower part; tarsus very slender, reticulate; hind toe ex- 
tremely minute, being reduced, as it were, to a slightly decurved claw ; 
anterior toes rather long and extremely slender, obscurely scutellate 
above, connected by striated webs with concave margins. Claws slen- 
der, arched, compressed, acute. 
Plumage very soft, blended, the feathers distinct only on the wings, 
which are very long and narrow ; primary quills tapering, but rounded, 
the second longest, the first three and a half twelfths, the third a twelfth 
and a half shorter; secondaries short, the outer incurved, obliquely 
