BLACK PETREL. 
Gray characterised this species as follows : — 
Procellaria parkinsoni, G. R. Gr. 
Procellaria fuliginosa, Banks, Icon 19 
Puffinus aequinoctialis, pt. G, R. Gr. List of Anseres B.M., p. 160 
Taiko of the natives. 
Hab. New Zealand (Miss R. Stone). 
This species differs from the Procellaria cequiiiociialis in being smaller in all its propor- 
tions ; the bill is nearly one -third less than that of P. cequinoctialis ; the body is sooty- black 
throughout, being without the white on the mentum ; the tips of the mandibles are 
inclined to black. 
I have explained the inaccurate attachment of the “Banks, Icon 19,” to 
this species (see p. 113). 
Captain Hutton* found this bird breeding on the Little Barrier Island, at 
an altitude of 1,500 feet and more above the sea ; several specimens were sitting 
on their nest, but only one egg was found. It nested under the roots of trees. 
The entrance to the hole is irregular in shape (but generally just large enough 
to admit the hand). Some of the holes were 3 ft. long, and each was 
enlarged at the end where the bird was sitting, with its beak turned towards the 
entrance. 
Mr. A. Reischekf writes : “ This Petrel is gregarious, and I have seen 
them in large flocks together, resting on the water. Their power of flight is 
marvellous.” [During a storm] “ they cruised about, dipping the points of their 
wings at intervals in the water, then suddenly swooping down through the foam- 
ing waves for their prey, rising from the next wave, and repeating their former 
action. From July to November these birds are always out at sea. In November 
they come ashore to their breeding-places, on the top of high and steep moun- 
tains, which they choose for the purpose of easier flight, as they have difiiculty 
in ascending from the level ground. They are expert climbers ; I saw them, 
by the aid of their sharp claws, their bills, and wings, climbing up trees out of 
the perpendicular, from whence they flew away. In November, 1882 ” [on the 
eastern slope, and near the centre of the Little Barrier or Hauturu Island, 
situated north of Auckland, at about 2,300 feet above sea-level, on a steep 
precipitous ridge], “these birds were cleaning out their old burrows. They dug 
with their bills, and removed the earth by a backward motion of their feet, 
till the burrow was cleansed. In most cases I found them working, in others 
the burrows were clean. Some burrows were in loose soil, others under the 
roots of trees and under stones ; also in hollow trees. 
“When they have finished cleaning out the burrows, which process male 
and female accomplish together, they remain quietly till the last rays of the sun 
* Trans. New Zeal. Inst. 1870, Vol. III., p. Ill, 1871. 
t*. 1885, Vo]. XVIIL, p. 87, 1886. 
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