THE FORK-TAILED PETREL 303 



The shell is without any polish and very chalky in texture ; 

 and I would give a word of caution to the collector in hand- 

 ling them, for they are fragile in the extreme. Both birds 

 take it in turns in incubatino- the e^o;, and when the vouno- 

 chick is hatched both attend it with unceasino- care. In their 



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habits the Fork- tailed Petrels turn night into day — not a bird 

 stirs from its nest till dusk, then their fluttering forms may 

 be observed flitting to and fro in the gloom, and you can stand 

 upon the beach and see them start out to sea. 



After leaving the Fork-tailed Petrels one of the St. Kildans 

 snared a quantity of Puffins with his long rod, and we gathered 

 half a boat-load of Piazorbill's, Guillemot's, and Gull's eggs from 

 the cliffs ere returning to the slippery landing-place. In its 

 actions on the water the Fork-tailed Petrel does not differ 

 much from its smaller congener. I would here, however, 

 correct a slight error which has most unaccountably crept 

 into the records of this bird's habits. It is said that this 

 Petrel can only rise from dry land with difficulty ; but the 

 birds I observed on St. Kilda and on the coasts of the Wash 

 rose quickly from the earth with very little effort. During 

 autumn numbers of Fork-tailed Petrels are snared on the 

 Wash ; but it is only the roughest weather that causes this 

 bird to seek the land. I do not think its food differs in 

 any important particular from that of the Stormy Petrel ; 

 and like that bird it is a constant attendant on ships, running 

 up and down the big waves, aided by its wings. It does not 

 seem quite so gregarious as its smaller ally either at sea or at 

 its breeding grounds. 



