COMMON STORM-PETREL. 467 



remain within their holes ; and though the fishermen are 

 constantly passing over their heads, the beach under which 

 they breed being appropriated for the drying of fish, they 

 are then seldom heard, but toward night become extremely 

 querulous, and, when most other birds are gone to rest, 

 issue forth in great numbers, spreading themselves far over 

 the surface of the sea. The fishermen then meet them 

 numerously, and, though they have not previously seen one, 

 are sure to be surrounded by them upon throwing pieces of 

 fish overboard." 



The egg is nearly elliptical, the small end being little 

 narrower or less rounded than the other, with a rather thick 

 shell, somewhat roughish, without gloss, white, with a belt 

 of minute dark reddish dots at the large end. The average 

 size is an inch and a twelfth and a half in length, ten- 

 twelfths in breadth. I have not seen any without some dots 

 at the large end, although there is seldom a distinct belt 

 there. 



The food of this species is said by authors to consist of 

 oily and fatty substances, small Crustacea and mollusca, 

 fishes, animal matter of any kind, garbage thrown from 

 ships, and even sea-weeds. It frequently appears in the 

 wake of vessels, especially before or during stormy weather, 

 but also when it is calm ; and then picks up portions of 

 animal and vegetable substances, even fragments of biscuits, 

 that are thrown to it. But, generally, its stomach and 

 gullet are found to contain oily matter, which, on being 

 seized, it vomits, like the other species of this family. 



The extent of distribution of this species is not ascer- 

 tained, as by mariners it is confounded Avith others ; but it 

 has been observed on the coasts of most parts of Europe, on 

 the Atlantic, especially on the banks of Newfoundland, and 

 in a few places on the eastern coast of North America. In 

 Britain, although the northern isles are those to which it 

 chiefly resorts to breed, it has been found occasionally every- 

 where along the coast. It is very remarkable that in all the 

 places where it has been found breeding, as in Shetland, 

 Orkney, and St. Kilda, it disappears after its young are 

 reared, and does not return until the beginning of next 



