Order PEOCELLAKIIFOKMES.] 



[Family PUFFINIDiE. 



C 



I o 



(ESTRELATA GOULDI. 



(GEEY-FACED PETEEL.) 



Majaqueus gouldi (Hutton), Buller [in error] , Birds of New Zealand, vol. ii., p. 145. 

 (Estrelata gouldi,* Hutton, Trans. N. Z. Institute, vol. ii., p. 79 (1879). 



This Petrel has the underneath part of the plumage white; that is to say, the basal part 

 of the feathers on all parts of the body. 



Nestling. — Covered with thick close down of a uniform blackish-brown colour. 



Dr. Sharpe has dropped this species in his ' Handlist of Birds,' but I feel perfectly sure that 

 it deserves recognition. 



'f 

 (ESTRELATA LESSONI. 



(WHITE-HEADED PETEEL.) 



(Estrelata lessoni, Garnot ; Buller, Birds of New Zealand, vol. ii., p. 219. 



Of this rare species — several examples of which, from the Auckland Islands, are in my collection 

 — Dr. Kidder obtained only one specimen on Kerguelen Island. On December 29th it was 

 brought home alive by one of the men, having been dug out of a very deep burrow by the dog, at 

 a considerable distance inland, and well up among the hills. He describes the tarsus and foot as 

 flesh-pink, black along upper surface of digits and on the web near the claw, and the hides 

 as very dark-brown. He states that he saw them following the ship on the 18th January, 

 about seven hundred miles north of Kerguelen, but unfortunately gives us no further particulars. 



Captain Hutton found this species breeding on Antipodes Island. 



Mr. Moseley, in describing this Petrel at Kerguelen's Land, says that for breeding purposes it 

 makes a much larger hole than the Prion, as much as six inches in diameter and long in 

 proportion. The curious feature is that at the end there is a round chamber with a slight 

 elevation in the centre, where the nest is placed, being somewhat raised, with a deeper passage all 

 round. He observed this mode of construction in both the nests he explored. The old birds were 

 very savage when pulled out, emitting a shrill cry and biting fiercely. 



Mr. E. Hall describes ('Ibis,' 1900, pp. 23-24) the nesting of this Petrel on Kerguelen 

 Island. The sexes alternately take part in the incubation in the day-time. The burrows are in 

 dry ground, and therefore the nests do not require to be raised, the egg being placed on a few 

 gathered soft fibres and feathers at the end of the tunnel. The average size is 2'85 inches by 

 2 in. Mr. Hall took eggs containing well-developed embryos at the end of January. 



* Mr. Salvin (' Cat. Birds,' B. M., xxv., p. 399) refers this bird to (E. macroptera, Smith; but I am quite satisfied 

 that it is a distinct species. Dr. Finsch says (' Trans. N. Z. Inst.,' vol. vii., p. 233) : " I got the type specimen from the 

 Auckland Museum for comparison, and am quite sure as to its specific distinctness." 



