352 Transactions.—Z oology. 
sexual character, I dissected the whole of the twenty specimens, with the 
following result:—Of P. banksii there were four males and four females ; 
of P. turtur there were seven males and five females. In some cases, owing 
to the state of the productive organs at this season of the year (first week 
in July), I was unable to determine the sex with absolute certainty. 
In others, however, the testes were sufficiently conspicuous; while in two 
females of P. turtur and in one of P. banksii I was able to detect a bunch 
of undeveloped eggs. The examination in this respect was therefore con- 
clusive, and I have now no hesitation in admitting P. banksii into the list of 
well established species. Diagnosis :— Similis P. turturi, sed rostro latiore, 
pileo saturatiore et cauda nigro latiüs terminatad distinguendus. 
All the specimens picked up by me on this occasion were dead, with the 
exception of the Prion banksii, now exhibited. I found this one on the 
sandy beach, where the surf had left him, sitting up in wet and draggled 
plumage, looking the very picture of abject misery. Beside him stood a 
seagull (Larus dominicanus) patiently waiting for his victim to succumb 
before commencing his savoury feast, when the unbidden guest appeared in 
the guise of a naturalist! 
Dr. Finsch refers the Prion vittatus, and P. banksii of Hutton’s “ Cata- 
logue,” to P. banksii, Smith, and P. turtur, Sol., respectively, and he is 
certainly right in doing so; for Prof. Hutton gives his P. banksii a bill only 
the decimal part of an inch broader than that of P. turtur, while he makes 
that of P. vittatus only -6. On reference to the figures accompanying my 
paper in Vol. VIL, it will be seen that the width of the bill in the true 
P. banksii is “55, and in P. vittatus 85. 
Dr. Fiusch agrees with me in sinking Gould’s Prion ariel, as it cannot 
be separated from P. turtur; and he unhesitatingly refers the bird described 
by Mr. Potts under the name of Prion australis to D. vittatus, Dr. Hector 
having forwarded him a specimen for examination. Not having seen the 
type of P. australis, I accept Dr. Finsch’s determination; but it must be 
borne in mind that Mr. Gould, who was quite familiar with P. vittatus, 
declares positively that there is another and broader-billed species, adding, 
however, “the precise latitudes in which this fine bird flies are unknown 
io me." 
