NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 47 



white egg is laid; size 2.25x1.45. It is stated that the old birds of 

 this species roost along the shores of the islands during the night and 

 the noise they make is said so be " something absolutely frightful." 



[101.] Bulweria bulweri (JARD. & SELBY.) [718.] 



Bulwer's Petrel. 



Hab. Eastern Atlantic, including coasts of Europe and Africa. 



This Petrel is known to breed on the Canary and Madeira Islands 

 and others on the northwestern coast of Africa. It is said to be an 

 occasional visitor to the Bermudas and accidental in Greenland. It 

 nests in burrows in the soft earth under overlying bowlder-rocks and 

 in deep crevices in cliffs. The bird is stated to be nocturnal in its 

 habits, never flying about in the daytime. The single egg which this 

 species lays is oval in shape, equal-ended, and pure white in color; 

 sizes range from 1.59 to 1.76 long, by 1.17 to 1.23 broad. 



104. Procellaria pelagica LINN. [721.] 



Stormy Petrel. 



Hab. Atlantic Ocean; on the American side from the Newfoundland Banks northward. West coast 

 of Africa and coast of Europe. 



The " Mother Carey's Chicken " of the sailors. Common in various 

 portions of the Northern Atlantic ; rarely found near land except when 

 breeding or during severe storms. It is not known to breed on the 

 American coast, but it does in various portions of the Atlantic coast of 

 Europe. In the Mediterranean it breeds in abundance. Nests com- 

 monly on nearly all the islands on the coast of Scotland the Hebrides, 

 Shetland, Orkeys and Faroes ; laying is begun in the latter part of 

 June. 



Dr. Coues says : "This is the rarest of the three little black white- 

 rurnped ' Mother Carey's chickens ' of our Atlantic Coast, easily dis- 

 tinguished by its short legs and square tail ; Leach's, the most numer- 

 ous, is also short-legged, but larger and fork - tailed ; Wilson's is inter- 

 mediate, with square tail, but very long, stilt-like legs, flat claws, and 

 a yellow spot on the webs." 



The single egg is deposited in holes in high cliffs or in burrows 

 made by the birds under bowlders lying on the ground. The cavity is 

 lined with twigs and leaves. The egg is white, obscurely dotted with 

 reddish brown on the larger end ; sizes range from 1.09 to 1.12 long by 

 . 78 to .83 broad. 



105. Oceanodroma furcata (GMEL.) [726.] 



Fork-tailed Petrol. 



Hab. Pacific Ocean, on the American coast south to Oregon. 



On all of the less populated islands of the Aleutian group as far 



