3i8 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



breeds abundantly at St. Kilda ; there are colonies on 

 North Rona and elsewhere in the Outer Hebrides ; 

 whilst small colonies have within the past few years been 

 discovered on the Blaskets off the coast of County 

 Kerry. 



Breeding habits : The Fork-tailed Petrel is a 

 resident in the British Seas, but subject to much local 

 movement, and is seldom seen on or near land except 

 during the breeding season, or when driven in by stress 

 of weather. Its breeding-haunts, so far as the United 

 Kingdom is concerned, are situated on rocky islands 

 commanding the Atlantic Ocean. It is a gregarious 

 bird, but nowhere do the colonies appear to be very 

 extensive, being scattered here and there on the fringe 

 of its oceanic haunts. Most probably this Petrel pairs 

 for life, as yearly it may be found breeding in one par- 

 ticular spot, the same nesting sites being used in many 

 cases. The most important colony known to me is 

 situated at St, Kilda. The Fork-tailed Petrel makes its 

 scanty nest at the end of a burrow from two to five 

 feet or more in length, often very winding, and contain- 

 in"" several outlets. In some cases one earth will 

 accommodate several pairs of birds. These burrows are 

 made in the soft peaty soil or mould, usually under the 

 turf, near the summit of the cliffs ; but in some instances 

 they have been discovered amongst ruins or under rocks. 

 The nests I examined were made of dry grass, moss, 

 roots, and a few bits of lichen from the surrounding 

 rocks, and varied considerably in size : in one burrow 

 there was no nest, and the egg lay on the bare ground, 

 I also remarked that the inhabited burrows had a little 

 dry grass strewn at the entrance. The birds sit remark- 

 ably close. No one would dream that the ground 

 around him contained such interesting objects, the Petrels 

 remaining on their nests until dragged out b)' the hand. 



