THALASSIDROMA MARINA, Zess.

White-faced Storm-Petrel.

Procellaria marina, Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. ii. p. 826.—Vieill. 2nde Edit. du Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xxv. p. 419.

pa des Ols., tom. m pl. 292,
Frigate Petrel, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. vi. p. 410.—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. x. p. 189.
Thalassidroma marina, Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 612.

 

Tris fine species of Thalassidroma was originally described by Latham, in the second volume of his “Index
Ornithologicus,” from one of Sir Joseph Banks’s drawings. It enjoys a wide range over the southern ocean,
the specimen figured by Vieillot in his ‘ Galerie des Oiseaux” having been procured at New Zealand, while
numerous individuals in my own collection were procured in Australia. Mr. Gilbert discovered it breeding

on some of the small islands lying off Cape Leewin in December, where he procured numbers of its eggs

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as well as many examples of the adult birds; he also met with it on a small island about three miles south of

East Wallaby Island m January, by which time the young birds were almost ready to leave their holes.
The specimens procured on this island are peculiarly interesting, as showing how completely the true
feathers are assumed before the downy covering is thrown off.

The egg of this species is pure white, one inch and a half long by one inch and an eighth broad : whether
one or two are laid at a time is uncertain, but I believe only one.

Forehead, face, line over the eye and all the under surface pure white ; crown and nape, a broad patch
beneath the eve and the ear-coverts slate-colour; sides of the chest, back of the neck and upper part of the
back dark grey, gradually passing into the dark brown of the back and wings ; upper tail-coverts light grey ;
primaries and tail black ; irides dark reddish brown; legs and feet black ; webs yellow.

The plumage of the immature birds being carefully represented in the drawing, a minute description is
unnecessary.

The figures represent a male, a female, and a young bird of the natural size.

 

 

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