PLATE XXVI. 



GENUS HALOB^ENA (Is. Geoff, de St. Hilaire). 



mHE following is the only representative of this genus in our Ornithology. It was classed by Gould 

 among the Petrels, though in appearance it closely resembles the Prions, especially the Prion 

 Turtur. 



II A LOB M X A C (E R I LEA. 



BLUE PETREL. Gems: Halob.kna. 



TT has been stated that this Petrel closely resembles the Prion Turtur, with which, also, it is frequently 

 seen in close company. It can. however, be easily distinguished from the latter, and also from the 

 other smaller varieties of Petrels, on a close inspection, by its possessing white tips to the tail' feathers, 

 and showing tin; wings, when outstretched, barred with white. It is a bold and powerful flier, and may 

 he seen in attendance on ships among the innumerable other birds, great and small, from many degrees 

 west of Australia almost till Cape Horn is reached. 



Its food is obtained in the same uiannei as that of the other Petrels described, and consists of 

 the same lowly-organised sea creatures, floating refuse from ships, etc. 



The sexes are alike in size and colouring. 



Crown of the head, back of the neck, sides of the chest, back. rump, wings and tail, grey: tips 

 of tail feathers, white : cheeks, throat, centre of the chest, and all under surfaces, white : before and behind 

 the eye, dark brownish mark : bill, dull blackish-brown, with a blue-grey stripe along the low er part of' the 

 under mandible: tarsi and toes, delicate blue: interdigital membrane. Mesh-colour. 



Habitats: From the 40th to GOth degrees of south latitude in the Pacific Ocean: particularly 

 plentiful about the coast of Tasmania, where it loves to congregate, with other species of the Petrel family, 

 about the islands in Base's Straits: on the north-cast coast of New Zealand, and from thence to Cape 

 Horn, it is constantly met with during the greater part of the year, although not in anything like the 

 numbers that are observed about the Tasmanian coast. Tt is also common in the Atlantic Ocean, between 

 the 10th and 60th degrees of south latittide. 



