SOOTY SHEARWATER 553 
In its general habits, form of flight, and food, the Sooty 
Shearwater does not seem to differ materially from its 
larger congener. 
Nest.—The nesting-habits have been observed on some 
of the islands (notably the Chatham group) off the shores 
of New Zealand. ‘‘ According to the experience of Mr. 
Travers in the Chatham Islands, this species makes, in the 
peaty ground, a burrow which runs horizontally for about 
three or four feet and then turns to the right or left; 
while a shght nest of twigs and leaves at the extremity 
serves as a receptacle for the single white egg. From 
a series of measurements given by “Dr. H. O. Forbes, the 
average appears to be 3 in. by 2 in. On the Island of 
Kapiti, off New Zealand, this species was found breeding 
in February and even as late as March. The male assists 
in the work of incubation, and the young birds, which are 
very fat, are esteemed a delicacy by the ‘Maories, who also 
hold them over their mouths in order to swallow the oily 
matter which is disgorged. The old birds roost on the 
shore, and are very noisy during the night” (Saunders). 
Geographical distribution. — Despite the fact that this 
Shearwater is plentifully distributed in summer over the 
North Atlantic and North Pacific, there is no evidence to 
show that it 1s other than a visitor from the Southern 
Oceans. As a wanderer it reaches latitudes even north of 
the British Isles, having occurred in the Faroes, while 
southward it visits the western sea-board of Europe. West- 
ward it is generally distributed in the Atlantic along the 
coasts of Canada and the States, especially at the fishing- 
banks. In the North Pacific it may be traced as high as 
the Kurile Islands. It usually migrates north in our 
summer, returning in late autumn to islands in the Southern 
Oceans, as far as lat. 50° §., to breed during our winter 
and early spring months. 
DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 
PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial.— Head, neck, back, 
scapulars, and wings, deep brown, the feathers of the back 
being edged with lighter brown ; primaries and tail-feathers, 
blackish: Feneaie Thee and upper breast, ash-brown ; 
lower breast and abdomen, dark ash-brown, the edge of 
each feather being darker than the centre. 
