PUFFINUS CINEREUS. 
point so as to correspond with the upper, its apex slender and acute, no 
prominent angle behind apex inferiorly. Tarsi somewhat compressed, and 
coated with moderately large polygonal scales. Toes, superiorly, covered 
partly with irregular shaped scales, and partly with transverse scutes : the 
interdigital membranes near the toes coated with irregular sized scales, those 
along the inside of outer toe largest ; claws pointed and slightly curved, the 
hinder one somewhat triangular, and placed upon the tarsus. Wings long, and 
when folded extend nearly an inch and a half beyond the tail, first quill 
feather longest. Tail rounded, the two middle feathers nearly three quarters 
of an inch longer than the external 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 angle of 
the mouth......,.., 2 0 
of the wings when folded 11 9 
of the tail 3 10 
Inches. Lines. 
Length of the tarsus 2 1 
of the outer toe 2 0A 
of the middle toe 1 1 13 
of the inner toe 1 7s 
of the hinder claw 0 2J 
The colours of the other sex are not known. 
I hesitated long before I came to the determination to regard this bird as the young of Pro- 
cellaria puffinus, especially as Temminck, whose knowledge must be held in great respect by 
every naturalist, makes the young “ peut-etre cCun an” as very differently coloured from what it 
must be considered, if our conclusion be correct. His bird of the first year will, if we are not 
in error, be one of the second year, and Plate 962 of the “ Planches enluminees” will be the repre- 
sentation of a specimen which has attained its second plumage. Specimens in the garb we have 
described are common on the Cape seas, and generally seen in company with others, which are 
doubtless genuine examples of P. cinerea ; and one of the latter which we possess has tended 
more than any thing else to satisfy me that the bird just described is the young of the species, 
as in it the middle of the belly and flanks retain the immature plumage, though elsewhere the 
feathers have acquired the colours of the adult bird. There are persons who consider it super- 
fluous to represent the young of a species when the adult has been figured, but we disclaim 
such a belief ; we consider information concerning the aspects under which a species appears to 
be as essential for the naturalist as the knowledge of new species : indeed, until more attention 
be paid to that, we shall have among the species introduced from day to day many which 
will be found to be only specimens of known species in particular stages. 
