96 
ZOOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 
as not to be defined except at a very great expenditure of words^. 
and it is utterly impossible in a small space to attempt to give a 
notion of their asserted characters. 
Cymochorea homochroa is described by Dr. Coues as a new species from the 
Faralloue Islands, Pacific Coast of North America, not very much unlike 
C. melania, but much smaller, and entirely brownish-black with a cinereous 
tinge. One of the type-specimens has been figured (Atlas B. N. A. pi. 99. 
fig. 2) as Thalassidroma melania {loc, cit. pp. 77 & 90). 
Halocyptcna microsoma is described by the same author as the type species 
of his new genus (noticed above) from the Farallone Islands, Pacific Coast of 
North America. In one place Dr. Coues says, It is the smallest known 
Petrel,” but in another that it hardly exceeds in size the little G. [?] pela- 
gica ” ! entirely fuliginous black, length of wing 4’76 inches 1 (^ibid. pp. 79 
&90). 
In his second paper Dr. Coues regards the Puffineae as com- 
posed of five genera, Majaqueus, AdamastoVy Thiellus, NectriSy 
and Puffinus ; it is satisfactory to learn that he thinks the 
further subdivision of Puffinus into Ardenna and Priofinus quite 
unwarrantable.^^ The five genera adopted are characterized 
with as much minuteness as those in the former paper. The 
whole of this paper is drawn up with the singular amount of 
patient investigation which distinguishes Dr. Coues^s ^ Reviews ^ 
of perplexing groups ; and the present writer can but regret he 
is obliged to withhold his assent to many of the views main- 
tained in it. 
Nectris amaurosoma is described as a new species from Cape San Lucas, 
Laving the bill of the same colour as the plumage, the feet fleshy-white, 
outer side of tarsus and outer toe tinged with dusky, lower wing-coverts 
mostly white {loc. cit. pp. 124 & 143). 
Puffinus creatopus is described from the MS. of Mr. J. G. Cooper as a new 
species from San Nicholas Island, California, with the general aspect of 
P. major y but having flesh-coloured feet, and other distinguishing points 
{ibid. pp. 131 & 144). 
Ptffintcs opisthomelas is described as a new species from Cape San Lucas, 
generally like P. obscurus, but larger and, among other differences, with 
almost all the under tail-coverts and axillaries fuliginous black {ibid. pp. 
139 & 144), 
Thalassidroma melitensis of Schembri is only T. pelayicuy the variations in 
the white markings of the tail-feathers being observable in specimens from 
other parts of Europe. C. A. Wright, Ibis, 1864, p. 154. 
Thalassidroma (sp. innom.) digs its breeding-holes itself in the 
ground, using its bill as a pickaxe, and throwing behind it the loose earth 
with its feet. J. Ambrose, Trans. Nov. Scot. Inst. Nat. Sc. 1864, pp. 34-37. 
PeLECANIDvE. 
Gracxdus (sc. Phalacrocorax) carbo and G. cristatuSy and Pysporus (sc. 
8uld) bassanuy are figured. C. J. Sundevall, *8v. Fogl. pi. Iv. 
