PROCELLARIN^E 
Prion  Laccp.* 
Bill  the  length  of  the  head,  very  broad  at  the  base,  depressed  above  ;  culmen  nearly  straight,  laterally 
sw  ollen,  but  gradually  compressed  towards  the  tip,  which  is  arched,  elevated,  compressed,  and  .acute  ;  the 
lateral  margins  dilated  near  the  base,  with  a  series  of  very  fine  lamina?  running  along  the  whole  length 
internally  rather  above  the  margin:  the  lower  mandible  broad  at  the  base,  gradually  compressed  towards 
the  tip,  which  is  much  compressed,  with  the  margin  and  gonys  arched:  the  nostrils  basal,  tubular,  elevated 
above  the  culmen,  short,  opening  with  two  apertures  in  front.  Wings  moderate,  pointed,  with  the  first 
quill  nearly  equalling  the  second,  which  is  the  longest.  Tail  moderate,  broad,  and  rounded  at  the 
end.  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  laterally  compressed,  and  covered  with  small  scales.  The  outer 
l\u  nearly  as  lmi-  as  the  middle,  and  the  hind  toe  nearly  In  the  form  of  a  broad,  short,  pointed  claw. 
They  arc  generally  observed  between  the  35th  and  70th  degrees  of  south  latitude.  They  are  wild  and  solitary  in 
their  habits,  and  constantly  seen  on  the  wing,  with  an  extremely  rapid  flight,  though  sometimes  going  in  numerous 
flocks.  Their  nests  are  placed  in  society,  in  burrows  of  about  a  yard  deep,  that  are  excavated  in  the  hill  sides,  at  a 
distance  even  of  half  a  mile  from  the  sea  shore.    The  eggs  are  white,  elongated,  and  of  the  size  of  those  of  a  pigeon. 
I.  P.  vittata  (Gmel.)  Forst.  Icon.  ined.  t.  87-,  Kuhl,  Monogr.  I     2.  P.  Jiunksii  A.  Smith,  111.  S.  Afr.  Zool.  t.  55. 
t.  II.  f.  IS  Pachyptila  Forsteri  Jurd.  Sf  Selby,  ILL  Om.  t.  47.  | 
*  Lace'pfede  proposed  (Mhn.  de  TIrut.  p.  f>14.)  this  generic  name  in  1800  or  1801,  which  llliger  changed  to  Pachyptila  in  1811. 
June,  1  S4-4-. 
