File:The genera of birds (19322140392).jpg

order VTTT. ANSERES.
The fourth Family,
PROCELLARIDiE, or Petrels,
have the Bill more or less lengthened, straight, more or less compressed, and grooved as if composed
of several pieces, with the tip strong, arched, suddenly hooked and acute, and the nostrils tubular and
exposed.
The first Subfamily,
PROCELLARINiE, or Petrels proper,
have the Nostrils placed on the basal portion of the culmen, tubular, and generally opened in
front.
Pelecanoides Lacep.*
Bill shorter than the head, broad at the base, and much depressed ; the sides swollen, grooved, and
gradually compressed towards the tip, which is lengthened, compressed, arched, and acute : the lower
mandible broad at the base, and suddenly compressed at the tip, which is, with the gonys, arched and
acute ; the sides longitudinally grooved and deep ; beneath is placed a membranous pouch, capable of
extension : the nostrils basal, one fourth the length of the bill, flattened above, and forming two
lengthened, sublinear, exposed apertures, placed side by side on the surface. Wings very short, with
the first two quills nearly equal and longest. Tail short and rounded. Tarsi rather shorter than the
middle toe, laterally compressed, and covered with small scales. Toes long; the outer nearly as long
as the middle toe ; the hind toe and claw wanting.
Inhabit the coasts of New Zealand, Australia, and the southern parts of South America. They are generally
observed in troops on the surface of the water near the shores, or on the inland seas, diving very frequently with con-
sidei'able rapidity after their prey, which is supposed to consist of small fish. They fly during the evening moderately
well in a straight line, by the rapid movement of their short wings. If the Patagonian species is disturbed during the
day, while on the water, it generally dives to a distance, and, on coming to the surface, with the same movement
takes flight : having flown some distance, it drops like a stone on the water, as if struck dead, and instantaneously dives
again.
1. P. urinatrix (Gmel.). — Procellaria tridactyla Forst. Icon,
ined. t. 88.
2. P. Berardii (Quoy & Gaim.) Voy. de l'Uranie, Zool. pi. 31.,
PI. col. 517.
3. P. Garnotii (Less.) Voy. de la Coqu. Zool. pi. 46.

• This is coequal with ffaladroma of Illiger, 1811, and Puffinuria of M. Lesson, 18.'51. Lace'pede's name, however, appeared in the