196 PETREL. 



The female has the same plumage; but the bill, though exceed- 

 ing that of any other Petrel, is scarcely more than half the breadth 

 of that of the male. — These birds were seen all over the southern 

 hemisphere, from 28 deg. upwards ; met with in Dusky Bay, and 

 other parts of New Zealand. On the N W. of Anchor Isle found in 

 immense numbers, among other species ; some on the wing, and 

 others in woods, in holes in the ground, close to each other; or under 

 roots of trees, or crevices of rocks; make a noise like the croaking 

 of frogs, and fly much by night, so as to be taken for bats. These 

 were not seen in the day time, but at three o'clock in the morning- 

 were very active, diving throughout the day, at sea, in quest of 

 food.* — Dr. Forster observes, that these birds are exceedingly well 

 furnished with cloathing, equal to the Penguin; for " their plumage 

 " was amazingly abundant, and increased their bulk in a great pro- 

 " portion ; and two feathers, instead of one, proceeded out of ever}' 

 " root, lying one within another, and formed a very warm covering, f 



28— BLUE PETREL. 



Procellaria cserulea, Ind. Om. ii. 827. Gm. Lin. i. 560. 



Another blue Peteril, Cook's Voy. i. 32. 



Blue Petrel, Gen. Syn. vi. 415. Forst. Voy. i. p. 91. 



LENGTH twelve inches. Bill one inch and a quarter, blue, 

 with a black tip, middle of the bend yellow ; upper parts of the 

 plumage blue grey, but paler than in the last; beneath white; 

 under the eye a patch of dusky; on the breast a dusky band ; the 

 greater quills are somewhat darker than the rest ; and the inner webs 

 of some of them nearly white ; the tail like the back, with a dusky 

 band near the end ; but the outer feather is white; the next white 

 within, the rest tipped with white; across the body and wings when 

 expanded, a dark band, as in the last species ; the wings, when 

 closed, somewhat longer than the tail ; legs blue, webs pale. 



* Forst. Voy. i. p. 103. Obs. p. 199. Cook's last Voy.i. p. 86. f Forst. Voy. i. p. 103. 



