of the United States. 367 



ces, for which, more than for protection, they follow vessels 

 under way, playing in their wake, where they pick up the 

 animals put in motion, and the floating weeds. Breed soci- 

 ally in holes and cavities of rocks overhanging the sea : lay 

 one or two eggs. Feed their young by regurgitation. Rest 

 easily on the water, suspending their light bodies on the top 

 of the waves with extended wings, riding on them, touching 

 with their feet. Flight rapid, irregular, always low and 

 skimming the water in day time. Voice chattering : silent 

 during the day ; clamorous at night. 



Spread in all latitudes and longitudes. A small and ex- 

 ceedingly natural genus, formed of but five well ascertained 

 species, so closely allied to each other, as to be generally 

 confounded. Resembling the Swallows. 



Differs from Procellaria, as Lestris from Larus. 



308. Thalassidroima wilsonii, Nob. Deep sooty black ; upper 

 tail coverts wholly white ; tail even, the wings reaching a lit- 

 tle beyond its tip ; tube of the nostrils recurved ; tarsus one 

 inch and a half long ; a yellow spot on the webs. 



Stormy Petrel, Procellaria pelagica, Wils. Am. Orn. vii. 

 p. 90.pl. 60. Procellaria tvilsonii, JVob. J. Ac. Ph. vi. p. 231. 

 pi. 9. lower figure. 



Inhabits throughout the tropical and temperate Atlantic 

 Ocean, not extending far to the north ; more common on the 

 coasts of the southern states and on the banks : found also 

 on the coasts of Africa, and even those of Spain, thus entitled 

 to a place in European Ornithology. 



309. Thalassidroma leachii, Nob. Brownish-black ; upper 

 tail-coverts white, with dusky shafts ; tail forked, the wings 

 not reaching beyond the tip ; tube of the nostrils straight ; 

 tarsus one inch long. 



Procellaria Leachii, Temm. Nob. J. Ac. Ph. vi. p. 229. 

 pi. 9. upper figure. Fork*tail Petrel? Procellaria furcala? 

 Lath. (27.) 



