

STORM d- LEACH'S FORK-TAILED PETRELS. 141 



ORDER TUBINARES. 



Family PROCELLARIID&. 



Subfamily PROCELLARIIN^. 



STOEM-PETKEL (Procellaria pelagica). 



Met with fairly commonly on the open seas all round our 

 coasts throughout the year. It breeds in the Channel Islands, 

 Scilly Isles, Lundy Island ; also in Scotland and its islands, 

 and in Ireland. 



Plumage. Upper parts greyish black. Kurnp and upper tail- 

 coverts white and conspicuous. Tail tipped with black ; under 

 parts sooty black. Bill, legs, and feet black. Length 6 in. 

 Female similar. Young browner. Nestling covered with grey- 

 ish black down. 



Language. Like "ti-tee-ik," several times repeated, 



Habits. Our smallest web-footed bird, being little larger 

 than a Sparrow. When seen flying over the sea it reminds one 

 in its flight and white rump of the House Martin. It is an 

 oceanic wanderer, never coming to land of its own free will, 

 except to breed, where it is absolutely helpless, and has to 

 use its wing and hooked beak to help itself along. It is 

 nocturnal to a large extent. When caught, it ejects, through 

 the tubular passage to its nostrils, an oily fluid with which it 

 feeds its young one. When flying it lets its legs dangle, and 

 gives the effect as of paddling. When near the nest a musky 

 odour may always be detected. 



Food. Fish, Crustacea, mollusca, and various floating fatty 

 and oily matters. 



Nest. June. One brood. 



Site. In burrows in soft peaty soil ; in fissures in rocks, and 

 under rocks. 



Materials. If any, a few dead grasses and stalks. 



Eggs. One. Large for the bird's size, being about one inch 

 long ; white, sometimes faintly freckled with reddish brown. 

 It soon becomes stained to a creamy colour. The shell is of 

 rough texture. 



LEACH'S FORK-TAILED PETEEL 

 (Oceanodroma leucorrhoa). 



Much rarer than the last, but has been found breeding on 

 St. Kilda, the outer Hebrides, and North Eona. 



Plumage. Generally much like the last, but distinguishable 

 on account of its rather greyer appearance, forked tail, and 

 larger size (8 in.), being about the size of a Swift. 



Language. Like " pewr-wit." 



