170 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



South Wales there is httle doubt that some individuals, at least, 

 wander further south. New Zealand waters are a stronghold, it 

 breeding in large numbers on islands off the coast. It was in Queen 

 Charlotte Sound that Forster's Petrel was first discovered, during 

 Captain Cook's voyages. 



The late Sir Walter Buller wrote of this species : — 



' ' They congregate in flocks, often of considerable size, and fly in 

 a compact body, generally in a zig-zag course, with a very rapid 

 movement of the wings and not far above the water. Their flight is 

 peculiar, too, in this respect, that they appear all to turn at the same 

 moment, like a company of soldiers, showing first the dark 

 plumage of the upper surface and then the white under parts, as 

 they simultaneously dip towards the water. 



" Their habits are sociable, and flocks may often be seen in the 

 daytime disporting themselves in the sea, making short flights just 

 above the surface, then flopping into the water, splashing and 

 chasing one another in their playful gambols, and when tired of 

 their fun rising in a body and rapidly disappearing from view as 

 already described. On one occasion I saw a flock of several 

 hundreds thus amusing themselves in the bright sunshine (though 

 the bird is more nocturnal than diurnal) as our ship was steaming 

 through the narrow ' French Pass ' in Cook's Strait. 



"•They seemed to scatter at night, for as darkness approached 

 I have noticed numerous single examples, as if the flocks of the 

 daytime were dispersing over the surface of the ocean in quest of 

 their food. They fly low but swiftly, and with a note resembling 

 the native name by which the bird is called, but somewhat pro- 

 longed, as ' Paka-ha-a-paka-ha-a.' During the breeding season 

 I have seen very large flocks of them between Whale Island and 

 the mainland, some of them hovering on the wing, hundreds 

 together in ' schools ' or flocks, and others scattered far and wide 

 over the surface, floating in a listless manner, as if resting after 

 the hunting exploits of the night." 



*BEOWN PETREL (Great Geey Petrel) 

 (Prioflnus cinereus, Gmelin). 



Male. — Crown of the head dusky-black; rest of the upper 

 surface ashy-grey, with faint hoary-grey margins to the feathers; 

 tail black, with ashy-grey on the inner webs ; wing coverts and 

 quills dusky-brown ; sides of the neck slate-grey ; entire under 

 surface pure white; sides of the body ashy -brown. There is con- 

 siderable difference in the colouration of both the bill and the legs 

 in individuals from different localities. Dimensions in mm. : — 

 Length, 500; bill, 50; wing, 332; tail, 106; tarsus, 56. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



JVesi. — According to Mr. Campbell, on Macquarie Island bur- 



