A BIRDLOVER'S YEAR 



ocean, which includes small crustaceans. 

 The eggs are laid singly in some burrow. 

 The storm petrel (Procellaria pelagica) is 

 the smallest of British web-footed birds, its 

 whole length being rather less than six 

 inches. This little bird is supposed to have 

 derived its name (now extended to the whole 

 group) from the habit of walking on the 

 waves, which called to mind the time that 

 Saint Peter also walked upon the waters. 

 It is essentially a child of the ocean, being 

 met with far out at sea, where it hovers 

 over the water in a butterfly-like fashion. 

 The range of these birds is confined to the 

 more northerly portions of the Atlantic, 

 and, save during the breeding period, they 

 are rarely seen in the vicinity of land. 



The small wedge-tailed petrel (Halocypetna 

 microsoma), seen off the coast of Lower 

 California, is allied to the little storm petrel, 

 as are also Leach's petrel (Cymocherea 

 leucorrhoa) the fork-tailed (Oceanodroma 

 furcata), and Hornby's petrel (Oceanodroma 

 hornbyi). Wilson's petrel (Oceanites oceani- 

 cus) forms one of a sub-family consisting of 

 birds larger in size than the storm petrel. 

 This bird inhabits the Atlantic Ocean and 

 c 33 



