PROCELLARIA MACROPTERA. 
a half the length of the tail ; the first quill feathers the longest. Tail rounded, 
the two centre feathers about an inch longer than the outermost one of 
each side. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. Lines. 
Length from the point of the bill to 
the tip of the tail 17 0 
of the bill from the gape 1 9 
of the wings when folded 13 9 
of the tail 6 0 
Length of the tarsus 
of the outer toe 
of the middle toe 
of the inner toe. . 
of the hinder toe 
Nothing is known of the colours of the other sex. 
Inches. Lines. 
1 6 
1 11 
1 II 
I 7 
0 3 
This is a rare bird on the Cape Seas ; therefore it is probable the favourite habitat of the 
species is farther to the southward. While on the wing it keeps near to the surface of the water 
like Procellaria Turtur, &c. 
When I first examined the specimen which has afforded the foregoing description, I was 
disposed to regard it as an example of Procellaria grisea, Gmel., but on further examin- 
ation, such doubts arose as led me to resolve on considering it distinct. 1 he published 
descriptions of most of the species of the group are so vague and deficient in diagnostic charac- 
ters, that it will be found necessary, for the good of science, that almost all of them be uncere- 
moniously rejected, unless the originals which supplied the descriptions should be re-described. 
Colours are not calculated to furnish good diagnostic characters in this group ; these must be 
drawn from the form of the bill, &c., and from the measurements of the different parts of the 
bird. The following appear to be well authenticated species, and the published descriptions 
are sufficiently precise to enable the naturalist to refer any bird which he possesses belonging 
to them to its proper species. 
Procellaria gigantea, Lin. 
cequinoctialis, Lin. 
Capensis, Lin. 
puffinus et cinerea, Lin. 
glacialis, Lin. 
glacialoides, Smith 
macroptera, Smith 
Anglorum, Temm. 
Turtur, Forst. 
Forsteri, Smith 
obscura, Gmel. 
hasitata, Temm. PI. col. 416. 
Bulweri, Jardine and Selby 
Cape, and Southern Seas. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Northern Seas. 
Cape, and Southern Seas. 
Do. 
British Seas. 
Cape, and Southern Seas. 
Do. 
Northern Seas. 
Indian Seas. 
Indian Seas. 
