WILSON'S PETREL. 669 



afterwards republished in this country, in the first volume 

 of the Zoological Journal, p. 425. 



Mr. Audubon says, " Wilson's Petrel breeds on some 

 small islands situated off the southern extremity of Nova 

 Scotia, and called Mud Islands, but which are formed of 

 sand and light earth, scantily covered with grass. Thither 

 the birds resort in great numbers, about the beginning of 

 June, and form burrows to the depth of two, or two and 

 a half feet, in the bottom of which is laid a single white 

 egg; a few bits of dried grass, scarcely deserving the 

 name of a nest, having been placed for its reception. The 

 egg measures an inch and a half in length, by seven-eighths 

 of an inch in breadth ; is almost equally rounded at both 

 ends, and has a pure white colour. By the beginning of 

 August the young follow their parents to the sea, and are 

 then scarcely distinguishable from them. During incuba- 

 tion they remain in the burrows, or at their entrance, 

 rarely going to seek for food before the dusk. It visits 

 Bermuda in August. On wing this species is more lively 

 than the Forked-tailed, but less so than the Common 

 Stormy Petrel. It keeps its wings nearly at right angles 

 with its body, and makes considerable use of its feet, par- 

 ticularly during calm weather, when it at times hops, or 

 leaps for several feet, or pats the water, whilst its wings 

 are extended upwards with a fluttering motion, and it 

 inclines its head downwards to pick up its food from the 

 water; and I have observed it immerse the whole head 

 beneath the surface, to seize on small fishes, in which it 

 generally succeeded. It can walk pretty well on the deck 

 of a vessel, or any other flat surface, and rise from it 

 without much difficulty. Its notes are different from 

 those of the Forked-tailed Petrel, and resemble the syl- 

 lables Jcee-re-kee-kee. They are more frequently emitted 

 at night than by day. I have rarely seen Wilson's Petrel 



