the remainder of the plumage very dark brown, approaching on the
occiput, back of the neck and wings to black; bill yellowish
horn-colour, becoming darker at the tip and at the base; feet in the
dried specimen dark brown, but doubtless of a bluish grey, inclining to
flesh-colour in the living bird.
The above is the description of a specimen in the collection of the
Zoological Society of London, to which it was presented by F. Debell
Bennett, Esq., who had procured it in the North Pacific. It differs from
every other that has come under my notice in the peculiar swollen and
raised form of the base of the upper mandible, which moreover advances
high upon the forehead.
585. Diomedea olivaceorhyncha, _Gould_.
_Diomedea olivaceorhyncha_, Gould in Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist.,
vol. xiii. p. 361.
I propose this name for a species, examples of which are wanting to our
collections, and of which a bill only has as yet come under my notice.
It is in the possession of Sir Wm. Jardine, Bart., is 3 inches and ⅜ths
long from the gape to the tip, of a uniform olive-green, and in form
more slender and elegant than that of the other members of the genus.
The locality in which it was procured is not known, but it is supposed
to have been obtained in the China seas.
The last two species were not seen by me in the Australian seas, but are
given in order to complete a monograph of the _Diomedeæ_.
Genus PROCELLARIA, _Linn._
Of the fifteen species I have placed in this genus as now restricted,
figures of only eight have been given.
586. Procellaria gigantea Vol. VII. Pl. 45.
587. Procellaria Æquinoctialis.
588. Procellaria conspicillata, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 46.
589. Procellaria hasitata, _Kuhl_. Vol. VII. Pl. 47.
590. Procellaria Atlantica, _Gould_.
_Procellaria Atlantica_, Gould in Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist.,
vol. xiii. p. 362.
Male: the whole of the plumage deep chocolate-black; bill and feet
jet-black.
This is one of the commonest species inhabiting the Atlantic, and no
ship passes between our shores and the Cape of Good Hope without
encountering it; it is a species respecting which very considerable
confusion exists in the writings of nearly all the older authors. It is
the _P. fuliginosa_ of Forster’s Drawings, No. 93 B, and the _P.
fuliginosa_ of Lichtenstein’s edition of Forster’s MSS. p. 23, which
term cannot be retained, as it had already been applied by Latham to a
very different bird from Otaheite; it is the _P. grisea_ of Kuhl but not
of Linnæus, who has given the term to another species, consequently
_grisea_ cannot be retained for it; and hence I have been induced to
give it a new appellation, and thereby prevent misapprehension for the
future.
591. Procellaria macroptera, _Smith_.
_Procellaria macroptera_, Smith, Zool. of South Africa, Aves, pl.
52.
I think that a bird I killed in the seas off Van Diemen’s Land, where it
was tolerably abundant, and which differs from the last in being of a
larger size, in having much longer wings and a greyer face, may be
identical with the _P. macroptera_ of Smith, and I therefore retain it
under that appellation, in preference to assigning it a new name.
592. Procellaria Solandri, _Gould_.
_Procellaria Solandri_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XII. p.
57; and in Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., vol. xiii. p. 363.
Head, back of the neck, shoulders, primaries and tail dark brown; back,
wing-coverts and upper tail-coverts slate-grey, each feather margined
with dark brown; face and all the under surface brown, washed with grey
on the abdomen; bill, tarsi, toes and membranes black.
This is a remarkably robust and compact bird. I shot a single individual
in Bass’s Straits on the 13th of March 1839. M. Natterer thought that it
might be identical with the bird figured in Banks’s drawings, to which
Dr. Solander has affixed the term _melanopus_, an opinion in which I
cannot concur; I have therefore named it in honour of that celebrated
botanist. The specimen above described may possibly not be fully adult,
as the dark colouring of the under surface only occupies the extreme
tips of the feathers, the basal portions of which are snow-white.
593. Procellaria Glacialoïdes, _Smith_ Vol. VII. Pl. 48.
594. Procellaria Lessonii, _Garn._ Vol. VII. Pl. 49.
595. Procellaria mollis, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 50.
596. Procellaria Cookii, _G. R. Gray_ Vol. VII. Pl. 51.
597. Procellaria cœrulea, _Gmel._ Vol. VII. Pl. 52.
598. Procellaria flavirostris, _Gould_.
_Procellaria flavirostris_, Gould in Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist.,
vol. xiii. p. 365.
Feathers of the head and all the upper surface brown with pearl edges,
fading into white on the tips of the upper tail-coverts; wings and tail
deep blackish brown; all the under surface pure white; the feathers of
the under surface of the shoulder with a streak of brown down the
centre; bill yellow, passing into dark horn-colour at the tip; tarsi and
feet fleshy white.
This fine species was procured off the Cape of Good Hope, in lat. 36°
39′ S., long. 10° 3′ E., by His Excellency Governor Grey, on his passage
to South Australia. It is distinguished from its congeners by its much
larger size, and by the yellow colouring of the bill. The female is
somewhat smaller than her mate.
This bird so nearly approaches in form the members of the genus
_Puffinus_, that it is almost questionable whether it should not be
included in that group.
599. Procellaria nivea, _Gmel._
600. Procellaria Antarctica, _Gmel._
Genus DAPTION, _Steph._
A genus established for the reception of the _Procellaria Capensis_ of
Linnæus, a species abounding in all the temperate latitudes of the
southern seas.
601. Daption Capensis Vol. VII. Pl. 53.
Genus PRION, _Lacep._
A genus of fairy-like Petrels confined to the southern hemisphere: much
confusion exists respecting these birds, and they are so puzzling that I
regret to say I have not been able to throw any light upon the subject.
Of the following species two only have been figured:—
602. Prion Turtur Vol. VII. Pl. 54.
603. Prion vittatus Vol. VII. Pl. 55.
604. Prion Banksii.
_Pachyptila Banksii_, Smith, Zool. of South Africa, Aves, pl. 55.
_Prion Banksii_, Gould in Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., vol. xiii.
p. 366.
Found in the temperate latitudes of the Atlantic and Pacific, and I
believe in similar latitudes all round the globe.
605. Prion Ariel, _Gould_.
_Prion Ariel_, Gould in Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., vol. xiii. p.
366.
I killed this species in Bass’s Straits, where it was rather numerous.
Genus PUFFINUS, _Briss._
The members of this genus inhabit the seas of both the northern and
southern hemisphere, but are nowhere more abundant than round Australia,
the fauna of which country comprises four species, which make one or
other of the groups of islands lying off the coast their great nurseries
or breeding-places.
606. Puffinus brevicaudus, _Brandt_ Vol. VII. Pl. 56.
It will be seen that I have alluded in forcible terms to the great
abundance of this species in Bass’s Straits, in confirmation of which I
annex the following extract from Flinders’ Voyage, vol. i. p. 170:—
“A large flock of Gannets was observed at daylight, and they were
followed by such a number of the sooty petrels as we had never seen
equalled. There was a stream of from fifty to eighty yards in depth, and
of three hundred yards or more in breadth; the birds were not scattered,
but were flying as compactly as a free movement of their wings seemed to
allow; and during a full _hour and a half_ this stream of Petrels
continued to pass without interruption, at a rate little inferior to the
swiftness of the Pigeon. On the lowest computation I think the number
could not have been less than a hundred millions. Taking the stream to
have been fifty yards deep by three hundred in width, and that it moved
at the rate of thirty miles an hour, and allowing nine cubic yards of
space to each bird, the number would amount to 151,500,000. The burrows
required to lodge this quantity of birds would be 75,750,000; and
allowing a square yard to each burrow, they would cover something more
than 18½ geographic square miles of ground.”
607. Puffinus carneipes, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 57.
608. Puffinus sphenurus, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 58.
609. Puffinus assimilis, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 59.
Genus PUFFINURIA, _Less._
One species of this genus inhabits the Australian seas.
610. Puffinuria Urinatrix Vol. VII. Pl. 60.
Genus THALASSIDROMA, _Vig._
The little tenants of the ocean belonging to this genus are so
universally dispersed, that they are found in all the seas except those
of the very high latitudes of both hemispheres. The Australian fauna is
particularly rich in birds of this form, inasmuch as no less than five
distinct species frequent the seas which wash the shores of that
country.
611. Thalassidroma marina, _Less._ Vol. VII. Pl. 61.
612. Thalassidroma melanogaster, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 62.
613. Thalassidroma leucogaster, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 63.
Thalassidroma Tropica, _Gould_.
_Thalassidroma Tropica_, Gould in Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist.,
vol. xiii. p. 366.
Head, back, wings, tail and breast dark sooty black; chin, under coverts
of the wings, abdomen, flanks, under tail-coverts, and a broad
crescent-shaped band across the upper tail-coverts snow-white; bill,
feet and legs black.
Total length, 7¾ inches; bill, ⅞; wing, 6½; tail, 3½; tarsi, 1¾; middle
toe and nail, 1¼.
I observed this species in the Atlantic, where it is confined to the
equatorial regions, being most abundant in the vicinity of the line. It
is the largest member of the genus with which I am acquainted, and is
rendered very conspicuous by the white mark on its throat.
614. Thalassidroma Nereis, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 64.
615. Thalassidroma Wilsonii, _Bonap._ Vol. VII. Pl. 65.
Family PELECANIDÆ, _Leach_.
Genus PHALACROCORAX, _Briss._
The great family of the Cormorants, whose range is universal, are well
represented in Australia, since five species inhabit and are peculiar to
that country, where they perform precisely the same offices as the other
species of the genus do in Europe and America.
616. Phalacrocorax Carboïdes, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 66.
617. Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Vol. VII. Pl. 67.
618. Phalacrocorax hypoleucus Vol. VII. Pl. 68.
619. Phalacrocorax leucogaster, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 69.
620. Phalacrocorax melanoleucus, _Vieill._ Vol. VII. Pl. 70.
621. Phalacrocorax punctatus Vol. VII. Pl. 71.
Genus ATTAGEN, _Mœhr_.
Although I have figured but one, there are evidently two if not three
species of this genus which visit the Australian shores; but I have not
had sufficient opportunities to investigate the subject satisfactorily.
622. Attagen Ariel, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 72.
623. Attagen Aquila?
Genus PHAËTON, _Linn._
The beautiful species of this form which graces the fauna of Australia,
ranges over the greater part of the Pacific Ocean, and among other
places retires to Norfolk Island and Raine’s Islet for the purpose of
breeding.
624. Phaëton phœnicurus Vol. VII. Pl. 73.
Genus PELECANUS, _Linn._
The members of this genus are very widely dispersed, since every great
country has one or more species assigned to it. That inhabiting
Australia is as fine and as beautifully marked as any other member of
the group.
625. Pelecanus conspicillatus, _Temm._ Vol. VII. Pl. 74.
Genus PLOTUS, _Linn._
Asia, Africa, America and Australia are each tenanted by a species of
this genus, the members of which, although few in number, are not well
understood nor are their specific differences easily decyphered.
626. Plotus Novæ-Hollandiæ, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 75.
Genus SULA, _Briss._
Four fine species of this genus appertain to the Australian fauna, since
they not only frequent the seas adjacent to the shores of that country,
but all of them resort to its rocks and islands for the purpose of
breeding.
The genus comprises several other species which inhabit the sea coasts
of nearly every part of the globe.
627. Sula Australis, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 76.
Inhabits the southern coast of Australia and Van Diemen’s Land, and is a
beautiful representative of the _Sula Bassana_ and _S. melanura_ of
Europe.
628. Sula personata, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 77.
Common on the east coast.
629. Sula fusca, _Briss._ Vol. VII. Pl. 78.
“This species of Booby,” says Mr. M’Gillivray, “is generally distributed
on the north-east and north coasts of New Holland; but I found it
breeding only upon Bramble Key, although I once, on Raine’s Islet, found
a solitary egg. The nest is slovenly made of dried herbage, a foot in
diameter, with scarcely any cavity, and contains two eggs, of which in
every instance one was clean and the other very dirty. The eggs, which
are white, vary considerably in size. The largest measured 2‑8/12 inches
by 1‑7/12; the smallest 2‑4½/12 by 1‑7½/12, and one of average size, 2½
by 1¾ inches. Both sexes incubate, and the birds while sitting on their
eggs allowed of a very near approach, and before flying off disgorged
the contents of their stomachs, chiefly a species of _Clupea_ or
herring. I need scarcely add that their bite is very severe. During our
visits to Darnley Island I observed several tame Boobies among the
native villages, generally perched on the canoes hauled up on the beach.
These birds were allowed their full liberty, and after fishing in the
weirs upon the reefs until they had procured a sufficiency of food,
returned to the huts.”
Inhabits the north coast.
630. Sula piscator, _Linn._ Vol. VII. Pl. 79.
Inhabits the north coast.
Family COLYMBIDÆ, _Leach_.
Genus PODICEPS, _Lath._
There is no country of any extent wherein Grebes are not to be found;
and as their wing-powers are very limited, they are mostly stationary.
I have elsewhere remarked how beautifully the European Grebes are
represented by those inhabiting Australia, and the truth of this remark
will be rendered at once apparent on reference to the Plates of the
following species:—
631. Podiceps Australis, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 80.
632. Podiceps gularis, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 81.
Podiceps Dominicus, var. Lath., Gen. Hist. vol. x. p. 32.
633. Podiceps poliocephalus, _Jard. & Selb._ Vol. VII. Pl. 82.
Family SPHENISCIDÆ, _Gould_.
Of this southern group of birds three or four species have been known to
visit the shores of Van Diemen’s Land and the islands in Bass’s Straits,
which, in fact, constitute one of the great breeding-places of some of
the members of this family.
Genus EUDYPTES, _Vieill._
634. Eudyptes chrysocome Vol. VII. Pl. 83.
Genus SPHENISCUS, _Briss._
635. Spheniscus minor, _Temm._ Vol. VII. Pl. 84.
636. Spheniscus Undina, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 85.
TABLE OF THE RANGE OR DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES.