Oedee TUBINAEES.] 
(ESTEELATA NEGLECTA. 
(SCHLEGEL’S PETREL.) 
[Fam. PEOCELLAEIID^. 
Procellaria neglecta, Schl. Mus. Pays-Bas, Procell. p. 10 (1863). 
./Estrelata neglecta, Coues, Proc. Phil. Acad. 1866, p. 170. 
Ad. supra sordide nigricanti-hrunneus : remigibus obscurioribus : prsepectore pallide brunneo : corpore subtus 
albo : rostro nigro : pedibus sordide flavis, digitis et membranis exterioribus nigricantibus. 
Adult. Crown of the head and bind neck sooty brown, mixed on the latter with white ; the rest of the upper 
surface brownish black ; the interscapulars and small wing-coverts narrowly margined with pale brown ; 
around the eyes there is an obscure mark of brown which fades away on the face ; the whole of the under- 
surface pure white j some of the axillary plumes slaty grey with white tips, others white clouded with grey, 
as also are the feathers forming the lining of the wings ; quills brownish black with white shafts and white 
on the inner webs, shading into brownish black at the tips; tail-feathers and upper tail- coverts brownish 
black, white at the base, which, however, is only visible on disturbing the plumage. Irides and hill black ; 
tarsi and basal portion of toes pale yellow, the rest of the feet black. Total length 15-5 inches ; wing, from 
flexure, 12 ; tail 4; hill, along the ridge 1’5, along the edge of lower mandible 1’7 ; tarsus 1’5 ; middle toe 
and claw 2'25. 
Obs. In some specimens there is an obscure patch of brown on each side of the breast ; in others it spreads into 
a broad yellowish-brown pectoral hand, narrower in the centre. 
The claim of this species to a place in our avifauna rests at present only on a label in a continental 
museum ; but it is a Petrel that is almost certain to be met with in our seas, and I have therefore 
felt no hesitation in including it on what might otherwise have been very insufficient authority. 
There is likewise a dark-coloured form, in which the whole of the plumage is sooty brown, 
deepening to brownish black on the upper parts. This colour, however, is confined to the surface, 
the whole of the plumage being pure white underneath. In this dark form, which Mr. Salvin refers 
without hesitation to (E. neglecta, the legs and feet are entirely black. This cannot be due to 
immaturity, inasmuch as nestlings pass from the down into both phases of plumage, and we must 
therefore regard it as another illustration of that law of dimorphism among sea-birds for Avhich, at 
present, we are utterly unable to account. 
Dr. Coues thinks that this form may be referred to parvirostris ; but Mr. Salvin regards it as a 
true species. My description is taken from the single example in the British Museum. 
