HALODROMIN/B. 827 



Swifts* both in general appearance, colours, and flight. They 

 breed in holes in rocks, laying one large white egg. 



976. Thalassidroma ? 



A Stormy Petrel is not of unfrequent occurrence near the mouths 

 of the Ganges in stormy weather, as well as throughout the Bay of 

 Bengal, but I have not been able to procure a specimen,f though 

 I have repeatedly seen them. 



Sub-fam. Halodromin^:. 

 Gen. Pelicanoides, Lacepede. 



Syn. Halodroma, Illiger. 



Char. — Bill very short, depressed at the base, hooked, under 

 mandible truncated ; nostrils superior, contiguous ; wings short, 

 1 st quill longest ; tail short, rounded ; feet short, no hind toe ; chin 

 with a dilatable pouch ; tarsus reticulated. 



These are Petrels with a dilatable throat, and wanting the hind 

 claw. 



977. Pelicanoides urinatrix, Latham. 



Procellaria apud Latham — Blyth, Cat. 1729— Gould, B. 

 Austr., VII., pi. 60 — P. tridactyla, Forster— PufBnaria Garnottii 

 Lesson ? 



The Little Diving Petrel. 



Descr. — Above blackish-brown ; chin black, rest of the lower 

 plumage white. 



Bill black ; irides dusky-blue ; legs bluish-green, the feet black. 

 Length about 8-g- inches ; bill nearly 1. 



This curious little Diving Petrel is stated by Sundevall to 

 have occurred in the Bay of Bengal. It chiefly frequents 

 Southern Seas, round Australia, New Zealand, and even South 

 America. 



* The resemblance of these birds to Swifts (and through them to CaprimulgidseJ 

 is deserving of attention. 



f I hope that some observer who has the opportunity of procuring this or 

 the last bird, will not fail to do so, that both may be thoroughly examined and 

 identified. 



