Order  VTTI.  AXSEKES. 
The  fourth  Family, 
PROCELLARIDiE,  or  Petrels, 
have  the  Bill  more  or  less  lengthened,  straight,  more  or  less  compressed,  and  grooved  as  if  composed 
of  several  pieces,  with  the  tip  strong,  arched,  suddenly  hooked  and  acute,  and  the  nostrils  tubular  and 
exposed. 
The  first  Subfamily, 
PROCELLARIN^E,  or  Petrels  proper, 
have  the  Nostrils  placed  on  the  basal  portion  of  the  culmen,  tubular,  and  generally  opened  in 
front. 
Pelecanoides  Lacep.* 
Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  broad  at  the  base,  and  much  depressed  ;  the  sides  swollen,  grooved,  and 
gradually  compressed  towards  the  tip,  which  is  lengthened,  compressed,  arched,  and  acute :  the  lower 
mandible  broad  at  the  base,  and  suddenly  compressed  at  the  tip,  which  is,  with  the  gonys,  arched  and 
acute ;  the  sides  longitudinally  grooved  and  deep  ;  beneath  is  placed  a  membranous  pouch,  capable  of 
extension  :  the  nostrils  basal,  one  fourth  the  length  of  the  bill,  flattened  above,  and  forming  two 
lengthened,  sublinear,  exposed  apertures,  placed  side  by  side  on  the  surface.  Wings  very  short,  with 
the  first  two  quills  nearly  equal  and  longest.  Tail  short  and  rounded.  Tarsi  rather  shorter  than  the 
middle  toe,  laterally  compressed,  and  covered  with  small  scales.  Toes  long;  the  outer  nearly  as  long 
as  the  middle  toe  ;  the  hind  toe  and  claw  wanting. 
Inhabit  the  coasts  of  New  Zealand,  Australia,  and  the  southern  parts  of  South  America.  They  are  generally 
observed  in  troops  on  the  surface  of  the  water  near  the  shores,  or  on  the  inland  seas,  diving  very  frequently  with  con- 
siderable rapidity  after  their  prey,  which  is  supposed  to  consist  of  small  fish.  They  fly  during  the  evening  moderately 
well  in  a  straight  line,  by  the  rapid  movement  of  their  short  wings.  If  the  Patagonian  species  is  disturbed  during  the 
day,  while  on  the  water,  it  generally  dives  to  a  distance,  and,  on  coming  to  the  surface,  with  the  same  movement 
takes  flight  :  having  flown  some  distance,  it  drops  like  a  stone  on  the  water,  as  if  struck  dead,  and  instantaneously  dives 
again. 
1.  P.  uHnatrix  (Gmel.).  —  Procellaria  tridactyla  Fornt.  Icon, 
ined.  t.  88. 
2.  P.  Berardii  (Quoy  &  Gaim.)  Voy.  de  l'Uranie,,  Zool.  pi.  51. 
PI.  col.  517. 
3.  P.  Garnotii  (Less.)  Voy.  de  la  Coqu.  Zool.  pi.  46. 
*  This  is  coequal  with  Waladroma  of  IUiger,  1811,  and  Puffinurfa  of  M.  Lesson,  1831.  Lac-'pede's  name,  however,  appeared  in  the 
Mnu.  de.  FJhstitut,  p.  .r>17.>  between  1800  and  1801. 
