48 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



east as Unalashka this species is found breeding in the month of June. 

 The nests are made in burrows or holes about a foot deep in steep 

 banks ; the termination of the cavity being thinly lined with fine roots 

 and dry grass. This species, like Reach's Petrel, when caught has the 

 habit of ejecting a reddish oily fluid which has a strong, disagreeable 

 smell ; the nest, eggs, and even the old dry skins of the bird are forever 

 infected with it. 



A small colony of these graceful petrels were found breeding on 

 Copper Island, in Bering Sea, by Dr. Stejneger. The eggs were taken 

 July 1 2th, a single one in each nest, were deposited in deep holes 

 in the steep basaltic rocks, three feet or more deep, and it was only 

 with great difficulty that a few could be secured. Some males and 

 some females were taken on the nests. The eggs were in different 

 stages of incubation, white without gloss, with minute dark specks 

 evenly dusted over the blunt end ; in one the specks were a little larger, 

 purplish-black, forming a circle around the blunt end. Three eggs 

 measure 34 x 26, 32. 5 x 25, 34 x 26.5 mm*. 



106. Oceanodroma leucorhoa (VIEILL.) [723.] 



Leach's Petrel. 



Hab. North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. 



Leach's Fork-tailed Petrel at various seasons of the year wanders 

 over a large portion of the watery expanse of the globe. It breeds in 

 the months of March, April, May, June, July and August, according to 

 locality, in the northern latitudes of Europe, Eastern and Western 

 North America. On the Atlantic coast of North America from Maine 

 northward it nests generally in June and July. Thousands breed 

 on some of the islands on the northern New England coast, 

 especially those in the vicinity of Grand Manan and the small 

 islands of Casco Bay. On the Pacific coast Mr. Walter E. Bry- 

 ant records L/each's Petrel nesting in March ; on Guadalupe Island, 

 which is situated two hundred and twenty miles southward and west- 

 ward of San Diego, California, Mr. Bryant found the birds breeding in 

 burrows under bowlders and fallen branches ; these places were from 

 one to three feet in length, at the extremity of which were enlarged 

 chambers where the single egg was laid upon a few pine needles. The 

 egg, Mr. Bryant describes as shaped much like that of a pigeon's, 

 white in color, one end being wreathed with a fine spattering of mi- 

 nute dots of reddish-brown and pale lavender. f 



The average size of fifty eggs taken March 4th and 5th, is 35.7 by 



* 1.34 x 1.02, 1.28 x 98, 1.34 x 1.04. 



f Additions to the Ornithology of Guadalupe Island. By Walter E. Bryant. Bulletin 6, California 

 Academy of Science. 



