AVIFAUNA OF LATSAN. 



49 



23. (ESTRELATA HYPOLEUCA, Satein. 



SALVIN'S WHITE-BREASTED PETREL. 



(Estrelata hypoleuca, Salvin, Ibis, 1888, p. 359 (Krusenstem I., N. Pacific) j Seeb. B. Japan, p. 269 (Bonin 

 Is.) ; id. Ibis, 1890, p. 105 (Bonin Is.). 



Adult Feathers of the forehead up to the middle of the head deep slate-colour, broadly 

 margined with white, and white at base ; feathers just above the bill, lores, and entire 

 under surface white ; occiput and hind neck deep slate-colour ; feathers of the inter- 

 scapular region, back, and upper part of rump slate-colour, with pale cinereous margins; 

 lower rump deep slaty; upper wing-coverts slaty black; quills and tail-feathers slaty 

 black; primaries with narrow greyish margins on the inner webs; secondaries lighter, 

 and with light grey margins on the outer webs ; under wing-coverts white in the central 

 portion of the wing, blackish all along the bend of the wing. Iris dark brown ; bill 

 black ; tarsus and basal portion of toes and webs dark flesh-colour, lower portion 

 brownish black. Total length about 13 inches, wing 9, tail 4 6, bill from gape 1'4, 

 tarsus l'l, middle toe with claw 1'4. (Measurements taken from Salvin, as my specimens 

 are more or less in moult.) 



Palmer only met with this rare Petrel on Laysan, where he found four moulting specimens 

 in the daytime in deep burrows. They were completely dazed when taken out of their 

 hiding-places, and behaved as if they were quite blind. According to Mr. Preeth, their 

 breeding-season was now over, but they came ashore in large numbers during their breeding- 

 time. They are quite nocturnal like other species of this genus. 



(The photograph showing these birds nesting is extremely interesting, as it shows their 

 burrow close to the nests of the White Albatross, of which they seem to have no fear.) 



u 



