PLATE XXII. 



GENUS PRION. 



mHE members of this family are easily distinguished from the Petrels by their soft grey colouring, 

 X in contrast to the bold markings of the latter. Their bills also are differently formed, being 

 broad and laminated, evidently suited for the picking up of some peculiar forms of sea-creatures. Four 

 species of Prions are found in the southern seas, and the two of which illustrations are given 

 undoubtedly visit Australian shores. One species only is found in northern latitudes. They are truly 

 oceanic birds, and rarely come to land except for breeding purposes. This function they carry out on 

 most isolated and barren spots ; to that forlorn island, Kerguelen's Land, they come in large numbers at 

 nesting time, and to other such desolate spots, such as St. Paul and Amsterdam Islands, etc. 



PRION VITTATUS. 



BROAD-BILLED PRION. Genus: Prion. 



THE wide bill characteristic of all the Prions is exaggerated in this variety, hence its name It is 

 found in large numbers at the breeding time along the Tasmanian and New Zealand coasts, and 

 on Anchor Island vast numbers congregate at that season. At other times it is seen over vast 

 expanses of the South Pacific, and is believed to exist in the South Atlantic also. 



Like the rest of this tribe, the plumage of the Broad-billed Prion is of great length and 

 softness, forming a thorough protection to the bird and giving it the appearance of having a much 

 larger body than it really possesses. It is stated by. some authorities that two feathers instead of 

 one spring from every root. The bird flies much at night, when from its bulk it has much the 

 appearance of a bat. 



The food consists of sea-creatures and floating matter. 



The sexes are alike in size and plumage, but the bill of the female is only about half as 

 broad as that of the male. 



The egg is long-shaped in form, being two inches long by one and a half broad, and is 

 pure white. 



Upper surfaces delicate blue-grey ; larger wing and tail-feathers edged with black ; a dark 

 brown mark in front of the eye, finishing in a crescent-shaped streak behind it of the same colour : 

 over and round this mark, throat and under surfaces white, with a bluish tinge on the flanks and 

 under the tail-coverts ; bill, grey-blue ; nostrils and a line along the lower mandible black ; irides, brown ; 

 legs and feet, blue-grey. 



Habitats : Tasmanian, southern and south-western coasts of Australia. 



