BLACK PETREL 



coverts, blacker on wing quills and tail. Bill 

 and feet black. 



An entirely dark-colored petrel with a some- 

 what forked tail. In flight it alternately glides 



FIG. 9. Oceanodroma melania 



and flutters, dragging its feet on the tops of the 

 waves. On a trip to the Pearl Islands in July, 

 1924, we saw two of these petrels near our boat 

 about sunset. After dark one flew aboard and 

 we caught and examined it. It answered the 

 description of this species. 

 52 



