724 BULWERS PETREL. 



they described and figured. Webb, Berthelot and Moquin-Tandon 

 state (' Ornithologie Canarienne,' 1841) that it is very common on 

 the small island of Alegranza, where it breeds in holes in the rocks, 

 and is known by the name of ' perrito,' or ' little dog,' from its cry. 

 About the year 1850 Dr. Frere obtained a considerable number of 

 birds and eggs from the Desertas, near Madeira, where Mr. Hurrell 

 also took a good many in 185 1 ; while Mr. F. D. Godman gives 

 (Ibis, 1872, p. 162) the following account of his visit to those rocky 

 uninhabited islands in 187 1 : — 



" We found plenty of Bulwer's Petrels sitting on their eggs, which 

 were in holes or under rocks, and usually about as far in as one 

 could reach with one's arm. They build no nest, but lay their eggs 

 on the bare rock. I did not find more than one egg in each nest. 

 I secured several birds and eggs, and kept some of the former 

 alive. It is curious to watch them crawling along the ground ; for 

 they cannot fly unless they get to the edge of a rock ; they waddle 

 along on their feet, and, when they come to a steep place, use the 

 sharp-pointed hook of their beaks to draw themselves up with. 

 They seem to dislike the light, and hide themselves under a rock or 

 crawl into a hole as soon as possible; I never saw one of this 

 species flying about in the daytime, though some of the smaller 

 ones are common enough." The egg is pure white : average measure- 

 ments I 75 by i"25 in. 



The adult has the bill black ; irides deep brown ; plumage almost 

 uniform brownish-black, rather paler on the edges of the great wing- 

 coverts ; tail much graduated and cuneate ; legs and toes reddish- 

 brown, webs dusky. Length io'5 in., wing 8 in. This is a highly 

 specialized form, with only one near ally, Bulweria macgillivrayi, 

 from the waters of the Fiji group ; it is perhaps nearer to CEstrdata 

 than to any other genus. 



