Wilson’s petbel. 
130 
buoy that warns them of the sunken rocks below, as this 
homeless wanderer, whose manner informs them of the approach 
of the storm, and thereby enables them to prepare for it.’ 
It is quick and lively in flight. Audubon says, ‘It keeps 
its wings nearly at right angles with its body, and makes 
considerable use of its feet, particularly during calm weather, 
when it at times hops or leaps for several feet, or pats the 
water, whilst its wings are extended upwards with a fluttering 
motion, and it inclines its head downward to pick up its food 
from the water; and I have observed it immerse the whole 
head beneath the surface to seize on small fishes, in which it 
generally succeeded. It can walk pretty well on the deck of 
a vessel, or any other flat surface, and rise from it without 
much difficulty.’ 
Its food consists of small fish, mollusca, Crustacea, and sea 
plants. 
‘Its notes resemble the syllables ‘kee-re kee-kee,’ uttered 
‘tempo commodo.’ They are more frequently emitted at night 
than by day.’ 
These birds appear to build in numbers, about the be¬ 
ginning of June, on sandy islands, in which they burrow 
small holes to the depth of two feet or two and a half: the 
necessary bedding provided is a little grass. 
The egg is a single one, and its colour white. 
The young are able to go to sea by the beginning of 
August. 
Male; length, seven inches and a half; bill, black; iris, dark 
brown. Head, crown, neck, and nape, dark brownish black; 
chin, throat, and breast, sooty black, the latter towards the 
tail white on the sides; back, dusky black, on the lower 
part, uniting with the tail coverts, white. Greater wing 
coverts, dark rusty brownish black; primaries, dark brownish 
black; secondaries, dark rusty brownish black, lighter coloured 
near the end, and the extreme edges and tips white. Tail, 
dark brownish black, the base of the three outer feathers 
white; upper tail coverts, white; under tail coverts, sooty black, 
but some of them tipped with white. Legs, long and slender, 
and, as the toes and claws, black; webs, black with an 
oblong-shaped greyish yellow patch on each. 
The female resembles the male in appearance. 
