PLATE XX. 



GENUS FREGATTA (Bonaparte). 



THE colouring of members of this genus is bold and striking and this, with their longer legs, renders 

 them easily distinguishable. Two species of this genus are found in our seas. 



FREGATTA ME LANOG ASTER (Gould). 



BLACK -BELLIED STORM PETREL. Genus: Fregatta. 



THIS variety shows strongly the characteristics which earned for this group of birds the title of 

 Petrel. The peculiar action of flying close to the surface of the sea and pattering upon it with 

 their feet is more noticeable in this than in any of the other Petrels. It seems to delight especially 

 in this running motion, and its peculiarly long legs and remarkable colouring render the habit more 

 noticeable. Its flight, too, is more than ordinarily strong and swift, even among a tribe which is not 

 excelled in wing power by any other group. 



These birds follow the ships sailing to Australia in great and increasing numbers long before 

 the coast is sighted. Their manner of feeding" and general habits resemble those of the other Petrels 

 in all essentials. 



Upper tail-coverts, flanks, sides of chest and inside the wing, white ; remainder of the plumage, 

 deep ash-colour ; bill, legs and feet are of the same dark shade ; irides, yellow. 



Length, 7\ inches; bill, f inch; wing, 6 inches; tail, 3 inches; tarsi, If inch. 



Habitats : Tasmanian coast and south-western coasts and islands of Australia. 



FREGATTA GRALLARIA. 



WHITE -BELLIED STORM PETREL. Genus: Fregatta. 



THIS is another example of the Petrels which is met with all over the temperate latitudes of the 

 South Pacific. It is as free and powerful in its wonderful flight and beautiful evolutions on the 

 wing as the foregoing species, and has the same habit of running along the surface of the water, although 

 with it the practice is not so frequently followed. The snowy white of its under parts renders it easily 

 distinguishable from the former variety. 



In the South Atlantic this bird is probaby also to be found ; Gould mentions having secured 

 specimens closely resembling it in their habits and flight, but being of larger size and having on the 

 throat more of a greyish-white colour. He was of opinion that the latter would prove to be a distinct 

 species. 



