NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



ends. It is rough, with numerous Httle pits and points over the entire sur- 

 face; size about 2.90 by 1.90. Hab. BehHng's Sea. 



709. Greater Shearwater — puffinus major. The Greater Shearwater 

 wanders over the entire Atlantic Ocean, from Greenland south to Cape 

 Horn and the Cape of Good Hope. It is sometimes seen in immense flocks, 

 skimming the billows in its light and graceful manner, similar to the smaller 

 Petrels. It also swims and dives with ease. Breeds in the far north on the 

 islands of the sea, depositing a single smooth, white egg in burrows dug by 

 the bird. Size about 2.80 by 1.75. 



712. Dusky Shearwater — puffinus auduboni. Pure white, elliptical, 

 one; dimensions from 1.85 to 1.90 long by 1.20 to 1.25 broad. This 

 Shearwater occurs in the Southern Atlantic Ocean and is common along 

 the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It breeds on the Bahamas and Ber- 

 mudas in the month of March, depositing the egg in burrows in the 

 ground. Some writers say in holes of rocks. 



Hab. Warmer parts of the Atlantic; north casually to New Jersey. 



714. Sooty Shearwater — puffinus fuliginosus. The Sooty Shear- 

 water is common off our Atlantic coast and is very abundant in the North 

 Atlantic, where it breeds on the islands of the sea, often in colonies of great 

 extent, burrowing in the ground several feet, where it deposits a single 

 smooth, white egg; size about 2. 15 by 1.40. 



Hab. North Atlantic; south on the American coast to South Carolina. 



715. Dark-bodied Shearwater — puffinu.s griseus. This bird is simi- 

 lar to the last. Its nesting habits and eggs are the same. 



Hab, South Pacific, north on the American coast to Lower California.. 



721. Stormy Petrel; Mother Carey's Chicken — procellaria pelagica. 

 White, obscurely dotted with reddish-brown on the larger end; one in 

 number; size from i.io to 1.12 long by .75 to .78 broad. Dr. Coues 

 says: " This is the rarest of the three little black white-rumped ' Mother 

 Carey's chickens ' of our Atlantic Coast, easily distinguished by its short 

 legs and square tail; Leach's, the most numerous, is also short-legged, 

 but larger and fork-tailed ; Wilson's is intermediate, with square tail, but 

 very long, stilt like legs, flat claws, and a yellow spot on the webs." Nest 

 in burrows. Not known to breed on our side of the Atlantic. 



Hab. Atlantic Ocean, south on the American side to the Newfoundland Banks. West Coast of Africa 

 and of Europe 



722. Wilson's Petrel — oceanites oceanica. Wilson's Stormy Petrel 

 is one of the best known and commonest species. It is widely distributed 

 over the globe and is said to breed on our North Atlantic coast. Nests in 



