PROCELL ARIA FORSTERI. 
and the culmen distinct, and formed on each side by a longitudinal groove. 
The culmen flattened and below the level of both the hook of the man- 
dible and the nasal tube, the hook strongly curved and sharp pointed ; 
the nasal tube contracted posteriorly, bulged anteriorly, and terminated 
by two nostrils which are separated from each other by a distinct sep- 
tum ; the lower mandible acute at the point, and strongly curved down- 
wards. Tarsi moderately strong, and covered with small, flat, irregular 
shaped scales ; anterior toes slender, webs large, claws delicate and slightly 
curved ; a short obtuse claw in the place of the hinder toe. Wings long, and 
when folded extend fully an inch beyond the tip of the tail ; the first and 
second feathers longest, and nearly of equal length ; the third, fourth, fifth, 
and sixth successively shorter. Tail slightly rounded, the two centre feathers 
about half 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 10 5 
of the bill from the gape 1 3 
of the wings when folded 8 6 
of the tail 3 10 
Length of the tarsus — 
of the outer toe . 
of the middle toe 
of the inner toe . 
of tho hinder toe. 
The colours of the female are similar to those of the male. 
Inches. Lines. 
. 1 3 
1 3 
. 1 3i 
. 1 I 
. 0 1 
As far as I have been able to discover, there is nothing in the habits of this bird by which 
it is to be recognized from various other small species which occur in common with it upon the 
Cape seas. It is to be seen more or less remote from both the southern and western coasts of 
South Africa, and it even visits occasionally some of its bays, but never continues in the latter 
beyond a very limited time. The open sea seems its favourite resort, and there it is to be seen 
skimming along close to the surface of the water, as well in the storm as in the serenest 
weather, and picking up its food apparently with as much ease and in as great abundance 
during the raging of the gale as in the stillness of the calm. It often keeps company with 
ships for a great distance, and though it never approaches them so closely as the stormy petrels 
( Thalassidroma), yet the course it takes and the changes it makes according to the direction 
the ship pursues, show that its object is to keep company with the latter, though it cannot, 
from the shyness of its nature, benefit in any way by the presence of its fellow-traveller, more 
especially as it generally keeps either slightly in advance of the vessel, or off one of her sides. 
When it discovers an object suited for its food, of a size such as is to be seized and swallowed 
while on the wing, it is seen merely to plunge into the water, and then proceed ; but when 
the size renders that inconvenient, it rests and floats for the necessary time, and then by the 
rapidity of its flight makes up the lost ground, and takes up one of the positions above men- 
tioned. Hours and hours it passes after this manner, and appears as free from exhaustion 
when it parts company, as when it joins a vessel. 
