PETREL. 1 75 



the chin mottled brown and white in waves; the rest of the bird 

 above, and tail sooty brown ; beneath deep ash-colour, within next 

 the base, nearly white ; the wings, when closed, exceed the tail by 

 nearly one inch ; this is rounded, and consists of sixteen feathers ; legs 

 pale yellow, outer toe black the whole length ; the web the same, 

 except just at the base; inner toe and web black for three quarters of 

 an inch ; claws and spur behind black. 



We have observed some slight Varieties, but the general colour 

 of the plumage sooty black, beneath cinereous ; between the bill 

 and eyes all round, or face, mixed white and brown ; quills much 

 longer than the tail ; legs yellowish ; toes and webs, half way on the 

 fore part, black. That figured in Mr. White's work has the bill 

 yellow, and is white on each side of the under mandible, passing 

 backwards in an irregular streak ; with this difference, I am at a loss 

 to determine whether this bird really belongs to the Black Petrel, or 

 to the last described, but probably to the latter, as the black part of 

 the toes corresponds with it; and further, we could almost suppose, 

 that the three last form in reality but one species, differing in age 

 or sex; till, however, this can be ascertained, it is better to keep 

 them as distinct species. 



The Black Petrel, so called, inhabits the sea, in the neighbour- 

 hood of Port Jackson, in New South Wales, having the same 

 manners with its congeners. No one is a greater enemy to the 

 Albatross than this bird, whenever it is seen on the wing ; but quits 

 it as soon as it takes to the water ; sensible, no doubt, that an 

 encounter on this element would end to its disadvantage. It is, 

 however, a still greater scourge to the Broad-billed Species, for 

 although multitudes of these are destroyed by it, the heart and liver 

 seem to be the only parts coveted, as the rest of the bird is left 

 untouched ; hundreds of them, thus eviscerated, have been found 

 lying on the ground in this situation.* 



* Embassy to China, i. 223. 



