LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN PETRELS AND PELICANS. 123 



like who who, dovelike in quality, but dc idedly different from 

 oo-ow of the uan kane {Puffiiius cuneatus) .'''' 



DTSTRIBUTTON. 



Breeding range. — Islands in the eastern Xoith Atlantic Ocean. In 

 the Azores, Salvages, Madeira, and Canary Islands. Also on various 

 islands in the North Pacific Ocean. On the Bonin and Volcano 

 Islands, on Laysan, Xecker, and Bird Islands, and on other islands 

 in the Hawaiian group. Apparently the Pacific birds are not sub- 

 specifically distinct from the Atlantic birds. Breeding grounds pro- 

 tected in the Hawaiian Islands reservation. 



Range. — Eastern portion of the North Atlantic Ocean and central 

 and western portions of the Pacific Ocean from Japan and China to 

 the Marquesas Islands. 



Casual records. — Accidental in Greenland and in England (York- 

 shire and Sussex, 5 records.) 



Egg dates. — Canary and Madeira Islands: Fourteen records. Jan- 

 uary T to July 10 ; seven records, June 11 to 21. Necker Island : One 

 record, May 31. 



HALOCYPTENA MICROSOMA Coues. 



LEAST PETREL. 



HABITS. 



The life history of the least petrel, the smallest of the familjs long 

 remained unknown. The type specimen, taken by Mr. Xantus, in 

 May, 1861. near San Jose del Cabo, Lower California, remained 

 unique until March, 1888, when Mr. Charles H. Townsend (1890) 

 captured a second specimen, which " flew on board the Albatross in 

 Panama Bay." 



Nesting. — For all that we know regarding its habits we are in- 

 debted to Mr. A. W. Anthony (18985) who discovered the breeding 

 grounds of this rare species. He writes : 



In. early June I have found tlio least petrel migrating along tlie coast of 

 Lower California in company with the Socorro and black petrels, and in late 

 July have found them nesting on the small rocky San Benito Island, fifty miles 

 off the coast of the peninsula. So far I have never found the least petrel 

 nesting in burrows. They have always been taken from the crevices in rocky 

 ledges or among the loose stones. The pearly white egg is laid on the bare 

 rock. Usually several are found within a few feet if desirable crevices are 

 numerous. 



Eegarding the islands and his interesting discovery Mr. Anthony 

 (1896«) writes: 



The San Benito Islands are small, rocky reefs only, with little vegetation, 

 and being so far off shore are but little resorted to by gulls, cormorants, and 

 similar species. 



