Oedee PEOCELLAEIIFOKMES. 
Since my second volume was completed much work has been done, in 
connection with birds of this order and, while much has been learned, 
we now know how ignorant we still are of the life-histories and movements 
of these birds. It is impossible yet to judge, but already some of my 
suggestions have received confirmation while others have been criticised, 
and altogether I much appreciate the interest they have received. In the 
present place I take the opportunity of figuring two additional species, 
one, the largest Albatross known, the other, the “ unexpected ” Petrel. 
A series of papers by E. C. Murphy is remarkable for the close criticism 
of the birds themselves, the hfe notes from one locality and the conclu- 
sions drawn. Where any divergence of opinion appears it is put forward 
with personal facts to support it, and consequently these papers need 
especial consideration. On the other hand an ambitious essay, entitled 
“ A Eeview of the Albatrosses, Petrels and Diving Petrels,” by L. M. 
Loomis, in the Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., Vol. II., pt. n., pp. 1-187, pis. 1-17, 
April 22, 1918, does not advance our knowledge much in any way. 
Judging the Procellariiformes of the world from a large series of Galapagos 
birds he causes confusion in every possible manner. Analogy is used in 
an unconsidered manner and facts are presented so peculiarly that they 
become Uable to misinterpretation. He suggests that other writers have 
considered individual variation as of subspecific value, whereas he appears 
to have misunderstood sexual, seasonal and individual variation. The 
conclusion — “ Inasmuch as specimens taken from burrows are often worn 
and faded, it becomes apparent that breeding stations cannot be relied 
upon implicitly to furnish typical examples of geographic, or other, varia- 
tions in colour ” — is a bad one, as errors of omission are implied in the 
statement. Thus, examples might be taken from burrows at any period of 
the breeding season, and, of course, some would show wear. 
On the other hand, in his essay on Oceanites, Murphy {Bull. Amer. 
Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXXVIII., March 26, 1918, p. 124) records little varia- 
tion in birds from the breeding locahty, the wing showing 8 mm. difference 
between the largest and shortest in twelve specimens, averaging 144 for 
the females and 145.7 for the males. Thirty-two birds of the year 
procured at Bahia, Brazil, show just as httle variation, the males averaging 
416 
