Cape and Dove Petrels 1 1 5 



and very disagreeable odor. During the breeding season they nest in vast 

 communities on rocks and cliffs, making but little attempt at a nest, indeed often 

 laying the single large egg on the bare ground. The eggs are much esteemed for 

 food, being regarded as even superior to those of the domestic Duck, and conse- 

 quently the birds are frequently robbed. The Fulmars are particularly tame at 

 this season, permitting themselves to be taken in the hand or knocked from the 

 nest with a cane. 



Of the Pacific forms Rodgers's Fulmar (F. rodgersii), of which brief mention 

 has already been made, is confined to Bering Sea and adjacent waters, while the 

 Pacific Fulmar (F. g. glu-pischa] ranges from the North Pacific south along the 

 American coast to Mexico. Anthony has given us a very entertaining account 

 of the Fulmars of southern California, especially as they congregate on the 

 fishing banks some miles off the coast. The birds settle down within a few 

 yards of the fishermen and when the line is hauled up after a successful sound 

 they become greatly excited as the fish come into sight through the limpid 

 water. It usually happens that one or more fish are detached and float to wind- 

 ward, only to be pounced upon and torn to pieces by the hungry Fulmars. 

 " Their confidence in mankind is at all times very great. I have several times 

 seen them killed by fishermen, who had but to drop a small piece of fish over- 

 board and hit the bird with a club when it swam up to get it." They were also 

 taken by the hand and "when thrown upon the deck made no attempt to fly, 

 but with outstretched wings hurried to the rail, over which they could just 

 reach, and emptied the contents of their stomachs into the sea. Their actions 

 were so like those of a seasick landsman that it was extremely laughable." 



Cape Petrel. The little Pintado, Cape Petrel (Daption capensis], or Cape 

 Pigeon as it is perhaps most frequently called, from its superficial resemblance 

 to a Pigeon, is by many placed next the Fulmars. It is much smaller than any 

 of these, being only fifteen or sixteen inches in length, and has the head black, 

 the back white, spotted with black, while the under parts are immaculate white. 

 It is a native of the southern seas generally, coming north to Ceylon and occa- 

 sionally, perhaps only accidentally, to California, on the Pacific coast of America. 

 To all voyagers in southern seas it is an abundant and familiar bird, coming 

 about the ship often in great numbers and feeding greedily on the scraps thrown 

 overboard. It is said to dive readily, dropping suddenly into the water, and 

 instantly disappearing, and it will also fish up bits of food from a slight depth of 

 water. Like others of its kind, it ejects an offensive fluid when caught. Their 

 breeding places are various Antarctic islands. 



Dove Petrels. The final members of this subfamily are the little Dove 

 Petrels (Prion), of which some four species are recognized; all are inhabitants 

 of the southern oceans. About twelve inches long, the upper surface is ashy 

 blue, darker on the head and under the eye, and white below, while there is a 

 very distinct black V-shaped band running from the wrist-joint along the radial 

 portion of the wing to and across the rump, which is very conspicuous when the 

 bird is flying. The several species are mainly distinguished by the width of the 

 bill. The common Dove Petrel (P. desolatus] is perhaps the best known, being 



