86 



BIRDS OF AMERICA 



rat-hole, and about the middle of June each hole 

 contains a single fragile white egg. As we land 

 there is not a sign of a bird. But sometimes we 

 can smell the peculiar odor like that of the oil 

 they eject, characteristic and persistent and 

 which lasts in mounted specimens for years. 



l-'iiMtM Ijy H, K. J"l. 



LEACH'S PETREL 

 Young and egg removed from burrow 



Presently we notice the little holes, which run 

 almost horizontally, just below the roots of the 

 grass. A hand inserted up to the elbow lands 

 in a little chamber where the brooding bird is 

 now imprisoned. At the beginning of the breed- 

 ing season I have found both male and female 

 in the burrow ; later, only one, which may be of 



either sex, as both sexes incubate. The other 

 partner is supposed to be out at sea, but it is a 

 curious fact that in daytime no Petrels are seen 

 in the vicinity of the islands where they breed. 

 Nor have they been proved to remain in other 

 burrows or hide in holes of the rocks. After 

 dusk the Petrels emerge from their burrows, 

 and there are lively times. Dark forms dart 

 around like bats, twittering, and also uttering a 

 singular little plaintive " song," as it may well 

 be called. 



Where animals, such as dogs or cats, are kept 

 by fishermen or lighthouse keepers on islands, 

 I have found that they make a regular practice of 

 digging out and eating Petrels, until the colonies 

 are depleted or exterminated. Such practices 

 should be prevented. 



Later in the summer, investigation of the holes 

 reveals the presence of soft, fuzzy young, covered 

 with thick coats of gray down, lighter in color 

 than the parents. I have found them as late as 

 September without a single feather — perhaps 

 the result of robbery of the nests. Such occur- 

 rences might have given rise to an old super- 

 stition that Petrels hibernate. \\'inter appar- 

 ently drives them at least further south than our 

 bleak north Atlantic coast. 



Once I tried to make a captured Petrel of this 

 species sit for its picture. Its ceaseless activity 

 was something astonishing. No wonder it can 

 outlast gales and billows in many a test of en- 

 durance. Herbert K. Job. 



FORKED-TAILED PETREL 



Oceanodroma furcata (Ginelin) 



A. O. U. Number 105 



Description. — Length, 9 inches. General color, light 

 bluislt-yray, fading to white on chin, throat, and under 

 tail-coverts; bend of wing and space around eye, dusky; 

 bill and feet, black. Tail, slightly forked ; bill, small 

 and weak. 



Nest and Eggs. — Nest : A hole in a bank ; thinly 

 lined with dry grass and fine roots. Eggs : Single, 



dull white with minute dark specks evenly dusted over 

 the large end. 



Distribution. — North Pacific and adjacent Arctic 

 Ocean ; breeds from Commander and Aleutian islands 

 south to islands ofif Oregon ; in migration occurs on 

 both shores of Bering Sea north to Kotzebue Sound ; 

 wanders south to San Pedro, California. 



Description. — Length, 8 inches. General color, sooty- 

 black : upper tail-coverts and side of under coverts, 

 white ; wing-coverts, brownish ; bill and feet, black. 

 Tail, slightly forked ; bill, small and weak. Similar to 

 the Forked-tailed Petrel, but smaller in size and darker 

 in color. 



Nest and Eggs. — Nest: A burrow in a bank or 



KAEDING'S PETREL 

 Oceanodroma kaedingi Anthony 



A. 0_ IT. Number 103.2 



under a pile of stones; lined with grass, pieces of bark, 

 or chips of wood. Eggs: Single, white. 



Distribution. — Pacific coast of North America; 

 breeds on islands oflf Washington, Oregon, and Califor- 

 nia from Cape Flattery south to the Farallons ; in 

 migration south to Guadalope, Socorro, and Clarion 

 islands. 



