214 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. 



name of Duck Petrels would not be inapplicable. The most distinctive character met with in this 

 bird is that the margin of the upper jaw is furnished with small, thin, tooth-like processes, arranged in 

 the same manner as in some species of Ducks, and answering a similar purpose. The wings are 

 long and strong, the first quill being somewhat shorter than the second. The tail, composed of twelve 

 feathers, is broad and bluntly rounded, the two central feathers being perceptibly longer than the rest. 

 The colour of the plumage is light greyish blue upon the back, and pearl-white on the under surface ; 

 the back and shoulder-feathers are darker than the rest of the body. The border of the wing and the 

 points of the tail-feathers are black. The eye is brown, the beak dark grey, and the foot dark greyish 

 blue. The length is ten inches and a quarter, breadth twenty-two inches, length of wing six inches 

 and one-third, length of tail three inches and a half. 



These birds are met with upon the coast of Brazil ; their range extends from the tropic of 

 Capricorn to the equator ; the region that they frequent abounding in rugged rocks and small islands, 

 upon which they probably find their breeding-places. They seem to be much more numerous in 

 the Pacific Ocean than in the Atlantic. According to Tschudi's observations they are seldom seen 

 swimming on the ocean, their flight being of a more sustained character than that of the Petrels 

 generally. According to Gould, this species closely resembles the P. Banksii in its powers of flight 

 and mode of life. Of this latter he says : " Sometimes it appeared in countless multitudes, but more often 

 thinly dispersed over the surface of the ocean. During calms it flits over the glassy waters with a 

 noiseless but easy flight, often performing small circles and fluttering butterfly-like over any oily 

 substance thrown overboard, which it sips off the surface without settling ; occasionally, however, it rests 

 its buoyant and fairy little body on the waters, where it reposes at perfect ease, until hunger again 

 impels it to take wing in search of food. A more vigorous and active action of the wing being 

 necessary to sustain it during the raging of the gale, it then moves with zigzag turns of great swiftness, 

 ascending the billows, topping their surgy summits, and descending into the gulf between, where a 

 momentary shelter enables it to gain fresh vigour and seize from the slanting surface any molluscs that 

 may present themselves, and which from the disturbed state of the sea are apparently then more 

 abundant than at other times." 



The STORM PETRELS (Oceanides) constitute a well-defined group, distinguishable by the 

 smallness of their dimensions, their slender body, short neck, and moderately large head, as also by 

 the long Swallow-like formation of their wings, in which the second and third quills are longer than 

 the rest ; their tail is of moderate length, composed of twelve feathers, and either nearly straight or 

 forked at its extremity ; the beak is small, weak, and straight, except at the extremity, where both 

 mandibles curve downwards, the end of the upper one being decidedly hooked ; the tarsus is long, 

 slender, and feeble, and the foot furnished with three strong toes, which are united by a broad and 

 very complete web, while the hind toe is nothing more than a wart-like rudiment. The plumage is 

 thick and fur-like, and the colour generally a dusky blackish brown, more or less enlivened with white. 



The Storm Petrels are met with in all parts of the world, with the exception of very high 

 southern or northern latitudes. Where one species becomes scarce, another supplies its place, and 

 occasionally two or more species will be found inhabiting the same regions of the ocean. Thus four 

 or five at least occupy the vicinity of the coasts of Europe, and at least double that number are to be 

 met with near the shores of the American continent, whilst in the Pacific Ocean they seem to be 

 particularly numerous. In their usual habitat, that is, in the wide sea, the Storm Petrels live in a 

 constant state of activity, and may be seen flying about during the entire day, and heard throughout 

 the night. Occasionally they may be seen disporting themselves singly, but more generally they 

 make their appearance in small or more numerous companies, during fine as well as in stormy 



