AUSTRALIAN LONG-BILLED PRION. 
I would point out that these all agree in having broad bills, unfeathered dis- 
tensible pouches, wing-length 190-210 mm. ; tarsi about 34 mm. They agree 
however in pairs of strange distribution, thus ; — 
P. V. vittatus is the nearest to P. v, heyteli, 
gouldi „ „ imcgillivrayi, 
and JYiissus „ „ salvini. 
This suggests that there may be more than one species here represented, but 
until long series from every breeding-place are studied, it is impossible to 
confidently state any conclusion. 
The very fine series of P. v. vittatus from New Zealand, and good series 
of P. V. keyteli and P. v. salvini, show these birds to be quite constant when 
the variation between juvenile and adult is known. 
The type figured and described is a female collected on the beach in South- 
west Australia on June 14th, 1904. 
P. vittatus vittatus. P. v. missus. 
P. V. gouldi. 
P. V. salvmi. 
The figures here given represent careful life-size drawings, and though 
they seem to differ httle, are quite easily recognisable when skins are compared. 
It is possible that the colours of the bills also differ in nature, but so few 
notes have been taken that this cannot be decided. 
P. V. salvini approaches somewhat to the desolatus group, but the lateral 
plates bulge in the manner of P. vittatus, while the interramal pouch is 
unfeathered. 
It should be noted that the present subspecies, P. v. missus, is an 
unmistakeable form, and that it comes from West Australia. In the British 
Museum are two other Prions shot in West Australian waters, one of which 
seems to be an immature specimen referable to H. desolatus, but not agreeing 
exactly with H. d. mattingleyi ; while the other is near H. helcheri, but again 
not exactly matching the type of that species. Judging from these I would 
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