Order ANSERES.] [Fam. procellaritilt: 



PELECANOIDES UBINATRIX. 



(DIVING-PETREL.) 



Diving Petrel, Lath. Gen. Syn. iii. pt. 2, p. 413 (1785). 



Procellaria urinatrix, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 560 (1788, ex Lath.). 



Pelecanoides urinatrix, Lacep. Mem. de l'lnst. 1800, p. 517. 



Halodroma urinatrix, Illiger, Prodr. Syst. Mamm. et A v. p. 274 (1811). 



Procellaria tridactyla, Forst. Descr. Anim. p. 149 (1844). 



Puffinuria urinatrix, Gould, B. of Austr. pi. 60 (1848). 



Haladroma berardii, Bonap. Consp. Av. ii. p. 206 (1857, nee Temm.). 



Ad. supra nitenti-niger, scapularibus albo apicaliter vix notatis : collo laterali fuscescenti-cinereo : fronte 

 brunnescente : subtus albus, hypochondriis cinereo lavatis : rostro nigro : pedibus eyanescentibus, 

 viridi tinctis, palmis cyanescenti-albis : iride nigra. 



Adult. Crown and sides of the head, hind neck and all the upper surface shining steel-black; the forehead 

 tinged with brown, the sides of the neck dusky, and the scapulars touched with white ; throat, fore 

 neck, and all the underparts pure white ; the sides of the body and flanks sometimes stained with grey. 

 Irides and bill black ; legs and feet cobalt, tinged with green, the webs bluish white. Length 9"5 

 inches ; extent of wings 16"5 ; wing, from flexure, 5 - 5 ; tail 2; bill, along the ridge "75, along the edge 

 of lower mandible '75 ; tarsus 1 ; middle toe and claw 1"5. 



The Diving-Petrel is very common in the seas surrounding New Zealand, consorting in flocks, 

 and living on medusee and other marine productions. Its flight consists of a rapid fluttering 

 movement along the surface of the water ; and it dives through the waves with amazing agility. 

 Latham states that they " croak like frogs, and sometimes make a noise like the cackling of a 

 hen." My description is taken from a specimen picked up on the Waikanae beach in 

 September 1863. 



2 T 



