Oedee TUBINAEES.] 
[Eam. PEOCELLARIID^. 
MAJAQUEUS PAEKINSONL 
(BLACK PETREL.) 
Procellaria farMnsoni, Gray, Ibis, 1862, p. 245. 
Majaqiieihs parkinsoni. Gray, Hand-I. of B. iii. p. 108 (1871). 
Frocellaria parkinsoni, Buller, Birds of New Zealand, 1st ed. p. 302 (1873). 
Native names. — Taiko and Kuia. 
Ad. omnino brunnescenti-niger, interscapulio scapularibusque pallidioribus marginatis : rostro flavicanti-brunneo, 
culmine et apice brunnescentibus : pedibus nigris : iride nigra. 
Adult. Entire plumage brownish black, the feathers of the back and mantle narrowly edged with a lighter 
shade. Irides black ; hill yellowish horn-colour, shaded with dark brown on the culmen and towards the 
tips of both mandibles ; legs and feet black. Total length 18 inches ; wing, from flexure, 13’75 ; tail 5 ; 
bill, following the curvature of upper mandible 2, length of lower mandible 2 ; tarsus 2 ; middle toe and 
claw 2' 75, 
Young. Plumage, as in the adult, glossy black ; down adhering to underparts long, thick, and blackish brown 
in colour ; bill black, marked with horn-grey on the sides and unguis ; feet black. 
Nestling. The young is first thickly covered with sooty down, which adheres to the plumage for a considerable 
time, as in other Petrels, imparting to the body an appearance of unnatural size. It comes off first from the 
head, breast, and upper surface ; and in this operation the bird itself no doubt assists. 
Obs. The above description of the adult is taken from a New -Zealand specimen in the British Museum, presented 
by Miss R. Stone. Some examples have the underparts much tinged with brown. 
This species, which appears to be peculiar to the New-Zealand seas, is by no means uncommon in the 
Hauraki Gulf, resorting to the Little Barrier and adjacent islands to breed. Mr. Kirk, the well-known 
botanist, who has carefully explored these islands, informs me that he found both this and Gould’s 
Petrel breeding in subterranean burrows. He observed that the two birds differed entirely in cha- 
racter — M. gouldi being extremely vicious, fighting savagely even with a dog when attacked, whereas 
M. parkinsoni Avould allow itself to be seized by the hand in its burrow almost without resistance. 
It is diurnal in its habits, hunting in the open sea like the Albatros. I have watched several at 
one time following our steamer, not immediately in the ship’s track, but wheeling about with angular 
wings, like black kites, occasionally mounting high in the air, then descending almost to the surface, 
and always maintaining a circular course of flight. 
It has a soft whistling cry of kuia, whence its name. It is also said to make at certain times a 
mewing sound, like a young cat. 
I have not often been able to identify them on the wing, for, at a little distance, dark Petrels are 
all very much alike. A pair which I saw, in fine, calm weather, off the port of Napier early in 
December, were flying low, keeping close to the surface of the water, and with a somewhat rapid 
movement of their wings. 
