382 



PROCELLARIID/E : PETRELS. 



Of the three species of " Carey's Chickens," attrib- 

 uted to our waters, the present one is certainly the 

 rarest, and some have found reason to doubt its occur- 

 rence. It is, however, so similar in general appearance 

 to the other two, that it might readily be overlooked ; 

 and we are not willing to expunge it from our list only 

 to be at the pains of reinstating it in the future. In 

 point of fact, we have no doubt that it occurs. Both 

 Verrill and Boardman accredit it to Maine ; see for 

 example Pr. Essex Inst., iii, p. i6o, or Pr. Bost. Soc, ix, 

 1863, p. 234. 



LEACH'S PETREL. 



Cymochorea leucorrhoa ( V.) Cones. 



Chars. Coloration as in the last species, with conspicuous wh'ie 

 upper tail-coverts, but apt to be lighter — rather of a grayish or 

 even ashy tint on some parts. Much larger : length about 8.00 ; 

 wing, 6.00-6.50; tail, 3.00-350, forked; tarsus about i.oo; 

 middle toe and claw the same ; bill, 0.67, strong. 



Resident off the coast, and the most abundant of the 



three species. It is known 

 to breed from Maine north- 

 ward, and may occasionally 

 be seen in summer any- 

 where else within our limits. 

 Dr. Merriam, in fact, is in- 

 clined to believe that a few 

 ^^^^ of this species may breed on 



the islands off the Connecti- 

 cut coast. It nests in bur- 

 rows in the ground, laying a single white egg, often faintly 

 spotted about one end, measuring about 1.30x0.90. 



Fig. 81. — Leach's Petrel. 



