272 BIRDS OF BERMUDA. 
Family PROCELLARITD A. 
Sub-family PROCELLARIINAL. 
Genus OCEANITES, Keys. & Blas. 
179. Oceanites oceanicus*, Kuhl. Wilson’s Petrel. 
Procellaria pelagica, Wils. 
Procellaria oceanica, Kuhl. 
Procellaria wilsoni, Bp. 
Thalassidroma wilsoni, Bp., Nutt., Aud. 
Thalassidroma oceanica (Kuhl.), Schinz. 
Oceanites wilsoni (Bp.), Keys. & Blas. 
Oceanites oceanica (Kuhl.), Bp. 
Oceanites oceanicus (Kuhl.), Salv. 
Length, 7; wing, 5.75; tail, 3; tarsus, 1.3; bill, .65. 
Hab.—On both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and in the Indian Ocean, 
from the coasts of North America and those of the British Isles down 
to Kerguelen Land and South Australia, and is by no means uncommon 
on the ocean off the Azores. (Dresser.) 
Colonel Wedderburn says: ‘‘I have often seen these birds flying about 
near the North Rock, and once or twice inside the outer reefs in stormy 
weather, but never succeeded in shooting any of them.” One was shot 
by Mr. Harford, Fifty-sixth Regiment, some distance from the shore, on 
the 30th June, 1853. Mr. Bartram’s collection contains a specimen, con- 
cerning which he writes as follows: ‘‘ Wilson’s Petrel is not such a rara 
avis around the islands as you may be led to think through reading the 
Naturalist in Bermuda. In May, June, and July there are numbers to 
be found around the fishing boats a mile or two outside the castle; some 
days there are ten or twelve flying round, other days none at all. The 
one that I have was caught by Mr. John Swainson, on St. Catherine’s 
Flat; he was fishing and three or four were flying round the boat and 
he kept washing in bait; this one came so close that he grabbed it in 
his hand. Atanother time it was blowing a strong gale from the north- 
west, and I saw four so close up to the north shore that the boys threw 
stones at them. I could have shot them, but if I had I could not have 
got them.” Iam notaware that this species has ever been found breed- 
ing in Bermuda. I searched in vain for nests, but should not be sur- 
prised to hear of them being discovered there some day or other, as the 
sandy cliffs and débris on the south shore are most suitable for them. 
* In a letter dated 9th December, 1878, Mr. Bartram informs me that twelve of these 
Petrels were seen flying about the inside of the Flats Harbor in the middle of October, 
1878 (8. G. R). 
