Oedee TTJBINAEES.] 
OCEANITES OCEANICUS. 
(WILSON'S STORM-PETREL.) 
[Fam. PROCELLAEIID^. 
Procellaria pelagica, Wilson, Am. Orn. vii. p. 90, pi. 69 (1813, nec. L.). 
Procellaria oceanica, Kuhl, Beitr. Zool. p. 136, tab. x. fig. 1 (1820). 
Procellaria wilsoni, Boiiap. Journ. Acad. Phil. iii. pt. 2, p. 2 d1 (1824). 
Thalassidroma wilsoni, Aud. Birds Amer. 8vo, vol. viii. p. 106, pi. 460 (1839). 
Thalassidroma oceanica, Schinz, Europ. Faun. p. 397, pi. 1 (1840). 
Oceanites ivilsoni. Keys. & Bias. Wirb. Eur. p. 238 (1840). 
Oceanites oceanica, Bonap. C. B. xlii. p. / 69 (1856). 
Oceanites oceanicus, Salvin, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1878, p. 736. 
Ad. fuliginoso-brunneus, pileo undique aliquanto cinerasceiite, regione auriculari et collo postico magis nigricantibus : 
tectricibus alai'um fumoso-nigricantibus, majoribus versus apicem pallide brunneis : remigibus rectricibusque 
nigris, intus brunnescentibus : supracaudalibus et crissi lateribus conspicue albis : plumis uropygialibusimis 
nigris albo terminatis : subcaudalibus saturate brunneis ad basin albis : rostro nigro : pedibus nigris, mem- 
branis interdigitalibus sordide flavis : iride nigra. 
Adult. General plumage sooty black, darker on tbe bead aud hind neck j a broad band of white crosses the 
rump and upper tail-coverts, covers the flanks and spreads out on each side of the under tail-coverts ; small 
upper wing-coverts margined with pale brown j quills and tail-feathers black, the former dusky on their 
inner webs. Irides, bill, and legs black; interdigital webs dull yellow. Total length 7 inches; wing, from 
flexure, 6-3 ; tail 3 ; bill, along the ridge '6, along the edge of lower mandible ’7 ; bare tibia -5 ; tarsus 1-3 ; 
middle toe aud claw 1T5. 
Obs. The sexes are exactly alike in plumage. 
This species is almost cosmopolitan on the high seas. It is very numerous in the ocean that surrounds 
the Australian coast, and is sometimes met with off New Zealand, although it is by no means so plentiful 
as the other species of Storm-Petrel*. Mr. Salvin’s collection contains several specimens from the Azores. 
The gifted Charles Waterton thus refers to this species at page 154 of his charming ‘ Wander- 
ings ’ ; “ When it blows a hard gale of wind the Stormy Petrel makes its appearance. While the 
sea runs mountains high, and every wave threatens destruction to the labouring vessel, this little 
harbinger of storms is seen enjoying itself, on rapid pinion, up and down the roaring billows. When 
the storm is over it appears no more. It must have been hatched in jEolus s cave, amongst a clutch 
of squalls and tempests ; for whenever they get out upon the ocean it always contrives to be of the 
party.” 
* Another well-known species {Fregetta grallaria) is certain to occur in our seas ; but as no authentic New-Zealand 
specimen has been yet recorded, I will content myself with giving here a description of the bird, whereby it may hereafter be 
identified by local collectors : — Adult. Head, neck, and entire upper surface, except the uropygium, sooty black ; the feathers 
of the back and the larger wing-coverts minutely margined with white ; breast, abdomen, sides of the body, and middle portion 
of wings underneath, flanks, rump, and upper tail-coverts pure white ; lateral under tail-coverts tipped with white. Irides, 
bill, and feet black. Total length 7-25 inches ; wing, from flexure, G-5 ; tail 3 ; bill, along the ridge -75, along the edge of 
lower mandible -8 ; bare tibia -6; tarsus 1'3 ; middle toe and claw -8. The sexes are aflke in plumage, except that the female 
appears to have broader white margins on the plumage of the upper surface. 
