PACHYPTILA BANKSI. 
which terminates the mandible : the lateral portions of the bill are separated 
from the culmen by a deep longitudinal grove on each side, expand con- 
siderably, particularly towards the angles of the mouth, and internally the 
cutting edge of each is armed with a row of very fine, closely set membranous 
laminae, disposed in a transverse direction. Tarsi rather slender, and 
coated with irregular flat scales ; feet rather large, the anterior margin of the 
web belonging to the outer and middle toes semicircular, that of the middle 
and inner ones very oblique, a form necessary on account of the inferior length of 
the latter toe ; anterior claws slender and moderately curved, the posterior one 
straight, short, and pointed, and supplies the place of the hinder toe. Wings 
long, and when folded reach nearly to the apex of the tail ; the first quill feather 
longest, the second slightly shorter, several of the others diminish in length 
successively, but in a greater ratio. Tail rounded, the two centre feathers 
being nearly 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 0 
of the bill from the angle of 
the mouth 1 4 ^ 
of the wings when folded 7 9 
of the tail 3 .9 
Inches. Lines. 
Length of the tarsus 1 4^ 
of the outer toe 1 3 
of the middle toe 1 3 
of the inner toe 1 1 
of the hinder toe 0 II 
Judging from an imperfect specimen of a male bird of this species, which 
I once saw I am inclined to believe the colours are the same in both 
sexes. 
I his species is easily to be distinguished from Pachyptila vittata Illiger, Procellaria vittata 
and ccerulea, Forst., P. Forsteri, Lath., by a variety of characters, but most readily by its bill : 
the latter in our species is much narrower, and the sides less oblique ; the width at the base 
is only seven lines, the width of P. Forsteri nine and a half ; the sides of the bill in the latter 
proceed more horizontally, and the bill itself is altogether much larger, and differently shaped; 
the circumstance of many of the scapulars of P. vittata being broadly tipped with white, also 
furnishes a good diagnostic character. 
This bird appears to prefer the open sea to the vicinity of coasts, and though it occasionally 
appears in the bays of the Cape peninsula during very stormy weather, yet it rarely continues in or 
near them after the tempest which may have induced it to seek for the time a comparatively 
placid retreat has subsided. It is constantly to be seen from vessels sailing along 
the eastern coast, particularly during the winter season ; and it has often been a source 
of amusement to me to watch how long and how perseveringly an individual of this species 
would accompany a ship, even during blowing weather, without the appearance of having any 
object in view, or of suffering any fatigue or inconvenience. It is rarely observed to settle on 
the water, and if it does, it rarely continues passive longer than appears to be necessary to 
enable it to seize and devour what may have induced it to rest. 
The peculiar arrangement of the dull brownish-red colour, mentioned in the description of 
the colours of the bird, gives to it when flying an appearance of having the wings and body 
crossed by a dark coloured band. 
