24 WATER BIRDS 
is nocturnal in habits, feeding and flying only after dark- 
ness has settled over the sea, and enjoying a storm as 
the robin enjoys the sun. Its notes are a high plaintive 
call or a queer, low, purring coo. The latter is heard 
only during the nesting season. The name “ Petrel” 
means Little Peter, and has been given this bird be- 
cause of its curious habit of skimming over the surface 
of the water with feet just touching it in a quick, patter- 
ing motion, as if trying to walk upon the waves. All the 
time it flutters its wings like a huge butterfly. 
108. ASHY PETREL. — Oceanodroma homochroa. 
Famity: The Fulmars and Shearwaters. 
Length: 8.00-9.00. 
Adult: Grayish slate-color, merging to lighter on wing-coverts ; quills 
and tail blackish, merging to ashy slate-color on rump and upper 
tail-coverts. 
Geographical Distribution : Coast of Califormia. 
Breeding Range: Islands off the coast of California, including the 
Farallones and Santa Barbara. 
Breeding Season: June and July. 
Nest: In crevices under rocks, under driftwood, in stone walls, in 
burrows. 
Eggs: Creamy white, sometimes faintly spotted about the large end. 
Size 1.19 X 0.93. 
THE Ashy Petrels were breeding abundantly on the 
South Farallone Islands at the time of a recent visit I 
made to the spot, but few of the birds were in evidence 
during the daylight hours. The nests were well hidden 
under loose rocks, in crevices and in all sorts of crannies ; 
they were betrayed only by their disagreeable odor. In 
