MONOGRAPH OF THE PETRELS. 



There cannot be the smallest doubt that the Petrel secured by Bancroft was 

 (Estrelata jamaicensis, as understood at the present day, and he doubtless intended 

 that the Editors of the " Zoological Journal " should publish a description of it 

 under his proposed name of Procellaria jamaicensis. Unfortunately, however, the 

 Editors contented themselves with publishing the notes only, in which there is no 

 exact description or diagnosis of the bird which Bancroft had forwarded to them. 



There is, however, no question that, in the strict letter of the law, Bancroft's name 

 of P. jamaicensis becomes a nomen nudum, and that of Pterodroma caribbcea of 

 Dr. Carte should be adopted, as it is accompanied by a description and figure of the 

 species. Salvin used Bancroft's name because it had been widely applied, and 

 there can be no doubt as to the identity of the bird he wrote about. 



The Blue-Mountain Fulmar, or " Duck," as it is sometimes called, is generally 

 supposed to be confined to the island of Jamaica, but in a pamphlet published by 

 Mr. A. Hyatt Verrill, in 1906, entitled " Addition to the Avifauna of Dominica," he 

 states that it is not uncommon, and breeds at La Birne, Pointe Guignarde and 

 Lance Bateaux, as well as at Morne Rouge and Scott's Head. The musky odour of 

 these birds is very pronounced in the vicinity of the cliffs, where they nest in crevices. 

 Mr. Verrill observed a number of large Petrels, or Petrel-like birds, in the vicinity 

 of Charlotteville and Roseau, but never managed to shoot one, as they only appeared 

 after dark. A comparison of the Dominica birds, recorded by Mr. Verrill as (E. 

 jamaicensis, with typical birds from Jamaica, is decidedly necessary, as the species is 

 believed to be nearly extinct in the latter island, and its breeding in Dominica would 

 be an interesting and welcome fact. 



Dr. Carte, in describing his Pterodroma caribbcea in 1866, quotes some notes from 

 Mr. W. T. March:— 



" It is a night-bird, living in burrows in the marly clefts of the mountains at the 

 east and north-east end of the island. The burrows form a gallery six to ten feet long, 

 terminating in a chamber sufficiently commodious to accommodate the pair ; from 

 this they sally forth at night, flying over the sea in search of food (fishes), returning 

 before dawn. It is often seen on moonlight nights, and at sunrise, running about the 

 neighbourhood of its domicile, and sometimes crossing the road, regardless of the 

 labourers going to their work. I know nothing of its nidification." The above 

 particulars have been corroborated by Mr. Gosse, who obtained his information 

 from Mr. Hill. 



This Fulmar is also mentioned by Sir Daniel Morris as having been found in holes 

 under trees, or in burrows in the cinchona plantations, and in the unfrequented woods 

 in the Blue Mountains, at elevations of from 6,000 to 7,000 feet ; but though a careful 

 search had been made, and a reward offered for them, for the last two years, neither 

 nests nor eggs had been found. Colonel Feilden made a special visit to the mountains 

 for it, in company with natives who were acquainted with the bird, but discovered 



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