178 TROPIC-BIRDS 



son's Petrel is doubtless the most common. It breeds in the islands 

 of the South Atlantic in February, and after the cares of the breeding 

 season are over migrates northward to pass its winter off our coasts. 

 At this season its home is the sea, and its occurrence on land is gener- 

 ally due to storms. For this reason, and because of its long migra- 

 tion, it is the Petrel most frequently observed in western Atlantic 

 waters during the summer. 



Under the name of "Stormy Petrel," or "Mother Carey's Chicken," 

 these birds are familiar to most people who have made sea voyages. On 

 tireless wing they follow in the track of a ship, coursing ceaselessly 

 back and forth, now beneath the stern, now hovering over the foam- 

 flecked wake, reminding one of white-rumped Martins in their easy, 

 graceful flight. If food be thrown overboard, they are at once attracted 

 to it, and soon are left far behind, a little group of black, fluttering 

 forms on the surface of the ocean. The meal disposed of, a few rapid 

 wing-beats bring them to us, and again they resume their patient beat- 

 ing to and fro. 



1905. JOB, H. K., Wild Wings, 191 (off Mass.). 



^The WHITE-BELLIED PETREL (110. Fregetta grallaria) is a tropical species 

 which has been taken once in North America at St. Marks, Fla. 



The WHITE-FACED PETREL (111. Pelagodroma marina) inhabits the S. 

 Atlantic and southern seas. It is of accidental occurrence off the coast of 

 Massachusetts. It may be distinguished from any of our small Petrels by 

 its white underparts. 



IV. ORDER STEGANOPODES. TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS 



9. FAMILY PHAETHONTID^J. TROPIC-BIRDS. (Fig. 28.) 



The six species comprising this small but distinct family are dis- 

 tributed through the tropical and subtropical seas of both hemispheres, 

 but none regularly reach the United States. Tropic-birds frequent the 

 high seas. They fly with quick, strong beats of the wing, quite unlike 

 the more leisurely stroke of Gulls; and from Terns they may be known 

 by the long, willowy tail-feathers which add greatly to their appear- 

 ance when in the air. They hunt for food by beating back and forth 

 over the water and plunging abruptly down upon it. 



Tropic-birds lay their single brownish, purplish egg on the bare 

 ground or rock, in a burrow or crevice often some height above the 

 water. Incubation is said to be performed by both parents. When on 

 the nest, they vigorously resent being disturbed, by screaming, biting 

 and scratching. 



112. Phaethon americanus Grant. YELLOW-BILLED TROPIC-BIRD. 

 (Fig. 28.) Ads. White; a mark before and through eye; outer web of pri- 

 maries, lesser wing-coverts, and tertials black; flanks streaked with slate; bill 

 Sallow; tail tinged with salmon, shafts of feathers black. W. f 1075; T., 19'00; 

 . 2-00. 



