Birds. 3695 



tells me that " the crest is not exhibited in Temminck's figure, nor in 

 the specimen. There is less black on the top of the head in the figure 

 than is given in your drawing, which causes one to suppose that the 

 figure was taken from a more adult example. The specimen from the 

 Society also differs from the drawing sent — the black on the forehead 

 advances to the base of the nostrils, and the black on the hind head 

 extends further down the nape. These variations may prove that the 

 Museum's specimen is rather younger than the example taken in Nor- 

 folk. In all other respects they agree." Mr. Yarrell considers Mr. 

 Newcome's bird as decidedly adult. 



The species under consideration is without doubt comprehended in 

 the genus Procellaria, as at present restricted by most ornithologists. 

 In the general appearance of its plumage it is, however, not unlike 

 adult specimens of our greater shearwater (Puffinus major, Faber), and 

 it is, I think, within the range of possibility, that it might have been 

 mistaken by a hurried observer for that bird. I need hardly say that a 

 moment's consideration of the generic differences of the two species 

 would be enough to dispel any doubt that might arise on the subject. 



I now proceed to the bibliographical part of this bird's history : and 

 here I should be at a considerable loss, were it not that I have received 

 assistance from Mr. Gurney, Mr. Yarrell, and finally from Mr. G. R. 

 Gray. The two gentlemen first named have most kindly favoured me 

 with the following extract from the letter-press to the fourth volume 

 of the c Planches Coloriees,' (70me livraison). 



" Petrel hasite. 



" Procellaria hasitata, Temm. 



" L'adulte. (Planche 416). 



" La collection des desseins d'oiseaux du celebre Forster, renferme, 

 sous les numeros 97 et 98, des figures assez exactes de ce Petrel, in- 

 dique sous les noms de Hasita et Leucocephala ; nous en publions 

 le portrait sur un sujet capture dans les Mers Australes." 



" La queue longue — conique — bee d'un noir parfait, tarse, base des 

 doigts et des membranes jaunes — le reste, aussi que les ongles, noir — 

 longeur treize pouces. Une plaque circulaire noire couvre le sommet 

 de la tete et une tache noire s'etend sur la moitie posterieure du lorum — 

 le reste de cette partie, le front, les sourcils, les joues, le cou, et ge- 

 neralement toutes les parties inferieures, d'un blanc pur, le dos, le 

 croupion, les ailes et la queue d'un noir-brun, les plumes du manteau 

 bordees d'un brun cendre, les longues plumes des couvertures de la 

 queue d'un blanc pur." 



