20S 



cassell's book ok birds. 



the Sea Gulls, from which, however, they are easily distinguished by their rounder head, high forehead, 

 and smaller wings. The Petrels are powerfully built, short-necked, and large-headed ; their beak is 

 shorter than the head, strong, hard, and so deeply furrowed upon the sides that its point seems a mere 

 appendage fastened to it, forming at the extremity of the upper jaw a strongly-bent hook, and upon 

 the under jaw a peculiarly-formed angular termination. The cutting edges of the mandibles overlap 

 each other and are very sharp ; the gape opens backwards as far as the eye ; the apertures of the 

 nostrils are situated in a horny pipe consisting of two tubes consolidated into one in such a manner 

 that the longitudinal division between them is perceptible ; the foot is moderately strong, the tarsus 



THE GIANT petrel {Procellaria [Ossifragus] gigantea). one-sixth NATURAL SIZE. 



short and compressed laterally, the three front toes are connected together by a well-developed 

 swimming web, but the hinder toe is only represented by a little rudimentary appendage. The wings 

 are very similar to those of Sea Gulls, but are shorter and more pointed, the first quill being invariably 

 longer than the rest. The tail, which consists of twelve or fourteen feathers, is more or less rounded 

 at the extremity. The general plumage is rich, and thicker above than below, indeed, on the under 

 part it is very soft and fur-like. The. two sexes are alike in colour, and even the young differ but 

 slightly from the old birds, neither do their colours alter perceptibly with the seasons. 



THE GIANT PETREL. 

 The Giant Petrel {Procellaria \Ossifragus\ gigantea) may be regarded as holding a position 



