AVIFAUNA OF LAYSAN. 47 



22. PUFFINUS CUNEATUS, SaM 



WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER. 



Puffinus cuneaius } Salvin, Ibis, 1888, p. 353 (Kruscnstcrn I.) ; Stcjn. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xii. p. 377 (1890) 

 (Kauai); Seel). Ibis, 1801, p. 191 (Sulphur I., Volcano Is.); Wilson, Aves Hawaiienscs, pt. iv. pi. & 

 text (1893) (very good figure, but coloured too light above). 



Puffinus Jcnudseni, Stcjn. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1888, p. 93 (Kauai). 



Adult. Above dec]) sooty brown, darkest on the head, rump, and wing-coverts ; feathers of 

 the upper back with paler borders ; quills and tail-feathers sooty black. Beneath white, 

 sides of the bead and body grey ; lower vent and belly shaded with brownish grey ; 

 under tail-coverts dark brown ; under wing-coverts white, brown near the bend of the 

 wing. Bill horn-grey with dark hook ; iris brown; feet pale pink. Total length about 

 17 to 18 inches, wing 115 to 11*8; tail cuneate, central rectrices 55 to 5*8, lateral 3"7 ; 

 bill from gape 2*2 to 2S, from the nostrils to tip 1'2, exposed culmen 1*6 ; tarsus 1*8 to 1*9, 

 middle toe with claw 2*3 to 2*4 



The above refers to the regular plumage of the adult bird. In one of my specimens the 

 entire head is white with a few brown feathers ; this is either an albinism or a very 

 aged specimen. In young individuals the underparts, including the under wing-coverts, 

 are brownish grey. 



Tins very rare Petrel lives in pairs and lays only one egg in a rude nest made of grass in 

 a burrow in the sand ; it has a low moaning cry, and was observed on all islands except 

 Midway, but was universally very scanty in numbers. Breeding-season, May and June. 



The eggs elongate-oval, the shell very thin and smooth but without gloss, white in colour. 

 They measure 2 53 by T62 inches, 2*53 by 1-7, 2*48 by 1-58, and 2^5 by 1-74. 



