Order ANSERES.] [Eam. PROCELLARIID^E. 



PROCELLAEIA PARKINSON! 



(BLACK PETREL.) 



Procellaria parkinsoni, Gray, Ibis, 1862, p. 245. 

 Majaqueus parkinsoni, Gray, Hand-1. of B. iii. p. 108 (1871). 



Ad. omnino bruunescenti-niger, iuterscapulio scapularibusque pallidioribus marginatis : rostro flavicanti- 

 brunneo, culmine et apice brunnescentibus : pedibus nigris : iride nigra. 



Adult. Entire plumage brownish black, the feathers of the back and mantle narrowly edged with a lighter 

 shade. Irides black ; bill yellowish horn-colour, shaded with dark brown on the culmen and towards 

 the tips of both mandibles; legs and feet black. Total length 18 inches; wing, from flexure, 13- 75 ; 

 tail 5 ; bill, following the curvature of upper mandible 2, length of lower mandible 2 ; tarsus 2 ; 

 middle toe and claw 2" 75. 



Obs. The above description is taken from a New-Zealand specimen in the British Museum, presented by 

 Miss R. Stone. Some examples have the underparts much tinged with brown. 



This species is by no means uncommon in the Hauraki gulf, resorting to the Little Barrier and 

 adjacent islands to breed. Mr. Kirk, the well-known botanist, who has carefully explored these 

 islands, informs me that he found both this and Gould's Petrel breeding in subterranean burrows. 

 He observed that the two birds differed entirely in character — P. gouldi being extremely 

 vicious, fighting savagely even with a dog when attacked, whereas P. parkinsoni would allow 

 itself to be seized by the hand in its burrow almost without resistance. 



An egg of this Petrel in the Auckland Museum is broadly oval in form, measuring 2 '75 

 inches in length by l - 95 in breadth, and is of a creamy-white colour. 



