Vol "ifi6 XI1 ] Murphy, Range of Leach's Petrel. 171 



Records of Collection. 



September 9, 1912, 28° 36' N., 31° 45' W. (Latitude of the 

 Canary Islands; west of the meridian of the westernmost Azores.) 

 The calmest day I have ever seen, and excessively hot. The glare 

 of the mirroring sea was blinding. The water was dotted with the 

 tiny, translucent sails of sallee-men (Velella); pelagic insects 

 (Halobates), so rarely visible, left long wakes in the flat, impres- 

 sionable sea; and large areas of the substance which whalemen 

 call "tallow drops" drifted slowly past the brig. Early in the 

 forenoon small dark petrels were seen flying about erratically in 

 the distance, and, lowering the dory, I collected the first example 

 of Oceanodroma leacorhoa. I remained in the boat about an hour, 

 "chumming" for the birds with grease, but none other came 

 near. 



September 27, 10° 46' N., 24° 38' W. (South of Fogo, Cape 

 Verde Islands.) Calm, with a heavy swell; overcast; northerly 

 breeze toward evening. Among a flock of Occanitcs oceanicus 

 which fed about us on this day were eight Leach's Petrels. The 

 latter could be readily distinguished by their slightly larger size, 

 longer wings, and notably different style of flight. Oceanodroma 

 flies with rapid, "leaping" strokes, quite unlike the alternations 

 of gliding and synchronous flutters which characterize the flight 

 of Oceanites. An observer who has once had the good fortune of 

 watching the two species together can thereafter distinguish them 

 almost as far away as the birds can be seen. 



I lowered the dory and shot three of the Leach's Petrels. 



On September 30, I saw another Oceanodroma, but could not 

 lower. 



October 3, 6° 46' N., 24° 35' W. At nine o'clock in the evening 

 the crew was engaged in boiling sperm whale blubber, the cresset 

 over the try-works casting a red glare against the limp sails, when 

 a dazzled petrel tumbled onto the deck. It fluttered about, 

 bewildered, but managed to escape. Two others were caught 

 during the night, however, and both proved to be 0. leucorhoa. 

 One of them I banded and freed. 



April 18, 1913, 3° 40' S., 33° 35' W. (Between Rocas Reef and 



