18. OCEANITES GRACILIS {Elliot). 



(ELLIOT'S STORM-PETREL.) 



(Plate 13.) 



TJialassidroma gracilis, Elliot, Ibis, 1859, p. 391. 



Oceanites gracilis, Coues, Pr. Philad. Acad., 1864, p. 85 ; Salvin, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., 



XXV., p. 361, (1896) ; Rothsch. and Hartert, Nov. Zool., VI., p. 198 (1899), 



IX., pp. 416, 418 (1902). 

 Procellaria oceanica (nee Kuhi), Schlegel, Mus. P. — B. ProcelL, p. 6 (1863) ; Scl., P. Z. S. 



1867, p. 336. 

 Oceanites wilsoni, Giglioli, Faun. Vertebr. Oceano, p. 38 (1870) ; id., Viagg. 



" Magenta," pp. 844, 888 (1875). 

 Procellaria gracilis, Scl. and Salv., Nomencl. Av., p. 148 (1873). 

 TJialassidroma wilsoni (nee Bp.), Coppinger, Cruise " Alert," p. 87 (1883). 



0. oceanicce similis, sed minor et abdomine albo distinguenda. 



This Storm-Petrel is distinguished from 0. oceanicus by its smaller size and bill ; the 

 white rump-band is much narrower, and the middle of the lower breast and abdomen 

 is white. 



The species was first described by Dr. D. G. Elliot from a male specimen, obtained 

 off the coast of Chile in May. He does not give the name of the collector, nor does he 

 state where the type-specimen was deposited, but it is evident from the notes which 

 he appends to his account, that the original specimen must have been accompanied by 

 some details of its capture. It was said to be very abundant on the coast of Chile, 

 visiting the mainland only in the breeding season. During that period, for a great 

 part of the day and night, the birds retired to the clefts of the rocks, taking flight only 

 in the early morning. Both sexes were said to incubate, the eggs being white and two in 

 number. The birds were frequently met with in flocks of ten to fifteen individuals, 

 scattered over a small space at a distance of from thirty to forty miles from the shore. 

 Dr. Elliot tells me that, at this lapse of time, he does not remember the exact 

 circumstances under which he described the type-specimen, but, to the best of his 



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