io<* 



OCEANODROMA CRYPT OLE (J CUR A. 



? Thalassidroma , Dole, Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H. xii. p. 308 (1869) ; id. Hawaiian. Alman. 1879, 



p. 55. 

 Cymochorea cryptoleucura, Ridgway, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. iv. p. 337 (1882) ; Baird, Brewer, 



& Bidgway, Water-B. N. Am. p. 406 (1884). 

 Oceanodroma cryptoleucura, Stejneger, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1887, p. 78. 



Op this Petrel I was fortunate enough to procure examples from my friend Mr. Francis 

 Gay, procured on the Island of Niihau. 



Dr. Stejneger, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1887, p. 78, thus refers to it: — "Mr. R. 

 Ridgway in 1882 described this species as new, from two specimens collected by 

 Mr. Knudsen (Nos. 41949 and 41950). It is easily distinguished from all its allies 

 by having the upper tail-coverts white, the larger ones broadly tipped with black, and 

 by having the concealed bases of the tail-feathers, except middle pair, white. 



" This is probably the unnamed ' Thalassidroma ' to which Mr. Dole refers (Proc. 

 Boston Soc. N. H. xii. 1869, p. 308, Extr. p. 15; and 'Hawaiian Almanac,' 1879, 

 p. 55)." 



Mr. Ridgway's description is as follows :■ — 



" Description. — Uniform fuliginous, the head and upper surface more slaty, the 

 greater wing-coverts and outer webs of tertials paler, inclining to dull ash-grey; remiges 

 and rectrices dull black, the latter (except middle pair) white at the base ; upper tail- 

 coverts white, the longer feathers broadly tipped with blackish (as in Procellaria 

 pelagica) ; anal region mixed with white, and white of the upper coverts extending 

 laterally to the sides of the crissum. Tail only slightly forked or emarginated, the 

 outer feathers being only about '20 to -30 of an inch longer than the middle pair. 

 Bill, legs, and feet (including webs) deep black. Wing 5-80-6-30 inches ; tail 3-0-3-15 ; 

 bill (measured in straight line from base of culmen to point of the maxilla) -60 ; tarsus 

 •85--90 ; middle toe, with claw, -85--90." 



Nothing certain is known respecting the range of this species. 



