THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
the quills, especially next the base, very pale, nearly white, and the wings, when closed, 
exceed the tail by about an inch ; the tail is much rounded in shape, and consists of twelve 
feathers, of the same colour as the upper parts of the body ; the legs are pale yellow, the outer 
toe black the whole length, the mid^e one half-way from the tip, the webs also correspond 
the outer one being black, except just at the base ; and the inner one black for about one-third 
from the end ; the claws black ; the spur, which serves in place of a back toe, is also black. 
This inhabits Norfolk Island, and burrows in the sand like a rabbit, lying hid in the holes 
throughout the day, and coming out of evenings in quest of food. This bird appears to differ 
so very little from the dark grey Petrel of Goo¥s Voyage, Vol. I., p. 258, that it is not improbable 
It may prove to be the same species. This is described in the General Synopsis of Birds, 
Vol. VI., p. 399, under the name of Grey Petrel ; as also another species, on p. 400, by the 
name of White-breasted Petrel, differing only in the breast from our specimen. 
The figure given — “A. Latham, del.” — represents a Pterodroma with the 
forehead, chin and throat wavy dark and light, and the legs coloured as 
described. 
To this description was given the name Procellaria phillipii by Gray {Ibis, 
1862, p. 246) thus : — 
Norfolk Island Petrel, Phill. Bot. Bay, pi. p. 161. 
Procellaria alba, var. Lath., Ind. Orn., II., p. 822. 
Procellaria mollis, Gould ? 
Hab. Norfolk Island. 
Twenty-six years afterwards Salvin noted : “ Were it not for the colour of 
the feet, I should have little hesitation in referring Phillips’s bird to (E. solandri 
Gould” {Ibis, 1888, p. 358). 
The succeeding year North, in the Austr. Mus. Cat, No. 12, p. 416, 1889, 
wrote : — 
iEstrelata phillipii G. R. Gray. 
This species, figured in Governor Phillips’ Voyage to Botany Bay as the Norfolk 
Island Petrel, and subsequently described by G. R. Gray as Procellaria phillipii, 
Dr. Metcalfe informs me is very difficult to procure on account of its nocturnal habits, 
and is only to be obtained about January, when it resorts to the west side of the Island 
to breed, depositing a single egg at the end of a burrow in the sandy soil. During a 
period of ten years he has only obtained two birds and three eggs, one of the latter of 
which he has kindly forwarded. It is ovoid in form, of a dull white, the surface of the 
shell having numerous shallow pittings, although smooth to the touch and presenting 
a glossy appearance. Length 2.14 by 1.62 inches. 
In the Monograph of the Petrels, (Estrelata solandri Gould is included 
(p. 219), and the then unique type (pi. 61) figured. This appeared in 1908. 
The first name noted in the synonymy was Procellaria melanopus Natterer 
{nec Gm.), but nowhere does any explanation appear as to what P. melanopns 
Gmelin was supposed to be. Godman there suggested that 0. solandri might be 
a dark phase of some other species, possibly 0. lessoni. The Plate given is faulty, 
inasmuch as it does not fairly represent the mottling round the bill, which is 
however thus described : “ The base of the forehead, lores and cheeks white, 
mottled with brown spots . . . under surface of body dusky brown, slightly 
mottled with white spots on the throat.” 
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