PROCELLARIIFORMES. 
143.1, the females 143.8. Such figures do not indicate extensive variation, 
but apparently Loomis included moulting birds with half-grown wings — 
an absurd method. As far as can be judged, Loomis has failed to 
understand Petrels at all, and his work is not a guide to be commended. 
Thus he is quite happy in lumping all the Wedge-tailed Shearwaters 
under one specific name, without any attempt to inquire into the differ- 
ences observed, writing : “ To Dr. Goodman belongs the credit of ha\'ing 
first suggested in print that Puffinus cunmtus Salvin is a synonym of 
Puffinus cTilororhynchus Lesson, the type specimens representing respectively 
the light and dark phases of a single species. The series before me 
illustrates fairly well the variations shown in specimens from the Revilla 
Gigedo, Hawaiian, Kennadec and Seychelles Islands. Intergradation is 
complete throughout this series, there being no constant differences either 
in colour or size.” Thus biU and feet coloration is ignored which might 
prove a good feature. I shall deal with one or two items, as I am now 
figuring three Petrels, and will cite the matters in discussion in connection 
with them. 
Loomis’ Essay includes a good sketch of the literature of this group 
up to, but ignoring, my treatment in this work, which was to a great 
extent novel and deserved mention in this connection. This note alone 
suggests prejudice, and, once prejudice is allowed to sway judgment, results 
cannot be accurately determined. In considering Loomis’ attempt I 
have endeavoured to eliminate any feeling and would indicate my approval 
of certain points just as freely as I disapprove of his poor treatment, 
but further allow for this failure by accepting lack of material, hterature 
and initiative. The Geographic Distribution shows a novel discrimination 
into distribution areas, divided into Super-areas, Areas, and Sub-areas. 
As these are drawn up from literature no criticism is necessary, and little 
of value is shown. Examination of certain statements discloses items 
worth consideration in connection with other forms. Thus, commenting 
upon the few cases of discontinuous distribution, such as that of Har- 
court’s and Bulwer’s Petrels, he concludes this “ceases to be an enigma 
when viewed from the standpoint of a waterway between North and 
South America, which geologists tell us existed as late as the Miocene 
Period.” The enigma still persists in the fact that subspecific distinction 
has not become marked during that length of time. Again, the usage 
of large generic groups conceals the fact that the Albatrosses of the 
North Pacific are specialised in their bill formation in a manner quite 
different from the southern groups, of which he recognises three genera. 
Agam, admitting the aforesaid waterway between the Pacific and Atlantic 
VOL. vn. 
417 
