160 BIBDS OF TASMANIA. 



covered and procured by Gould in 1839 between Hobart and 

 Sydney. Later he found it between the coast of New South 

 Wales and New Zealand, off the coast of which it breeds. During 

 the Transit of Venus Expedition to Kerguelen Island, it was 

 found by both the British and American naturalists, but only by 

 the latter were nests found. Dr. Kidder, of the American party, 

 states that it becomes very fat during the breeding season, and is 

 strictly crepuscular in its habits. 



In New Zealand individuals have been captured inland, where 

 they have been blown by strong gales. 



*WHITE-FAC.BD STOEM-PETREL 

 (Pelagodroma marina, Lath.) 



Male. — Forehead and a line above the eyes white; crown of 

 the head dark ashy-grey ; back and shoulders and sides of the neck 

 dusky-grey; rump and upper tail coverts light ashy-grey; tail 

 feathers black ; primaries and secondaries black ; sides of the face, 

 throat, and under surface white ; irides black or nearly so ; bill, 

 legs, and feet black, middle of webs yellow. Dimensions in mm. : 

 — Length, 205; bill, 19.5; wing, 165; tail, 76; tarsus, 41. 



Female. — Plumage similar to male. Dimensions in mm. : — 

 Length, 200; hill, 17; wing, 152; tail, 69; tarsus, 39. 



The above dimensions were taken from a pair of birds captured 

 in the same burrow. 



Young. — " Covered with a sooty-black down. The first feathers 

 resemble those of the adults, but the grey feathers of the mantla 

 are fringed with white and the greater coverts and secondaries are 

 edged with white at the tips, the grey of the upper and under 

 tail coverts being barred with white. These markings are retained 

 by the young bird after it has become full grown and lost the 

 down" (R. B. Sharpe). 



Nest. — A rat-like burrow underground, frequently curved, and 

 from 18 inches to 2 feet long; the nesting chamber is circular, and 

 on the floor are placed a few fragments of weeds and tussock-grass. 

 Situated in a rookery on an islet covered with short herbage. On 

 parts of Ninth Island burrows of this species are in close proximity 

 to those of Mutton-Birds and Little Penguins. 



Eggs. — Clutch one; elliptical in shape; faint gloss on surface; 

 colour white, with minute reddish dots, especially round the 

 larger end. Dimensions average about 38 mm. x 25 mm. 



Breeding Season. — November to January. 



Geographical Distribution. — Seas of Tasmania, Australia, New 

 Zealand, and the Southern Ocean generally, ranging northwards to 

 the South Indian Ocean, Canary Isles, British Isles (accidental), 

 and off the coast of Massachusetts. 



Observations. — This dainty little Petrel is to be found breeding 

 on a number of islands in Bass Strait, notably Petrel, Three Hum- 



