THE ALLIED SHEAKWATEE 53 



Key to the Genera. 



A. Tarsi distinctly compressed, with sharp front edge. 



Nostrils separate. Puffinus. 



Nostrils united into a single opening. 



lail Quills 12. Prioflnus. 



Tail Quills 14. Priocella. 



B. Tarsi not compressed, with rounded front edge. 



Bills more or less yellow. Majaqueus. 



Bill black. CEstrelata. 



The White-fronted Shearwater. 



Puffinus leucomelas. 



Japan and southwards to North coast of Australia. 



tipper surface brown; anterior of crown, forehead, sides of head and 

 neck white, each feather with a narrow dark disc; under surface and 

 under wing-coverts white. Total length about 19 inches, wing 13, tail, 

 outer feathers 4, central 5.6. 



The Wedge-tailed Shearwater. 



Puffinus sphemirus. 



Indian and Australian Seas to Central Pacific Islands. 



Sooty-brown, crown, hind neck and wings darker, forehead and 

 throat greyer, entire under plumage paler sooty-brown. (See Addendum.) 

 Total length about 17 inches, wing 11.6, tail, central feathers 5, lateral 3.35, 

 tarsus 1.8. 



Nest generally in a burrow about three feet long. The single 

 egg is white, and measures about 2.40 x 1.65 inch. 



The Forster Shearwater. 



Puffinus gavia. 



Australian and New Zealand seas. 



Upper surface slaty -brown; under surface, including under 

 tail-coverts white; sides of head and neck mottled with grey, below the 

 eye dark; under wing-coverts white to the edge of wing. Total length 

 12 inches, wing 8, tail central 2.4, lateral 2.3, bill 1.9, tarsus 1.7. 



Nest in burrows or under a rock. The egg is pure white, and 

 measures from 2.45 x 1.45 to 2.20 x 1.45 inches (BuUer.) 



The Allied Shearwater. 



Puffinus assimilis. 



Australian seas, Atlantic north to Madeira. 



Upper surface slaty-black; all under surfaces white. Total length 

 about 10.5 inches, wing 7.4, tail central 2.65, lateral 2.6, bill 1.4, tarsus 1.5. 



Nest in a burrow about three feet in length, or under 

 a rock. One egg is laid, pure white in colour, and measures 

 about 1.95 X 1.43 inch. 



