^"s's'^l Anthony, Petrels of Soii(//eni Cdli/oriiid. 1 43 



the species were unsatisfactory. No nesting colonies were found 

 on the southern islands, — Socorro and Clarion, — all the birds 

 seen at sea seeming to be migrants. July 15 found us becalmed 

 in a fog not far from Guadaloupe Island, lilack and Socorro 

 Petrels were seen at a short distance from the schooner, pass- 

 ing and repassing, pausing for a moment at times to investigate 

 objects thrown from the vessel. Several of the rare white-rumped 

 form came and went with the rest but none ventured near the 

 schooner. In hopes of getting at least a nearer view a skiff was 

 launched and with my assistant, Mr. H. B. Kaeding, I spent two 

 hours or more in drifting about a quarter of a mile or so from the 

 vessel. In place of frightening the Petrels the smaller craft 

 seemed to excite their curiosity and they often turned aside from 

 their course to examine us. Several of the white-rumped birds 

 were secured which have since formed the basis for a new species' 

 named in honor of Mr. Kaeding as a slight recognition of his 

 valuable services. 



The breeding grounds of Kaeding's Petrel are at present un- 

 known, but I have reason for supposing that they nest on Guad- 

 aloupe, in July. Those which were taken on the 25th of that 

 month showed enlarged ovaries and the nesting season was but 

 little if any passed. The wing of a small Petrel was picked up 

 on Guadaloupe in September, 1896, and direct comparison made 

 with specimens of O. hoinochroa, to which species I assigned the 

 fragment after much hesitation. I am now reasonably sure it 

 belonged to the new "species. All of the species mentioned in 

 the present paper depend almost entirely upon the young of the 

 spiny lobster for food while on our coast, both adults and young 

 having their stomachs filled with the larval stage of that crusta- 

 cean, which is extremely abundant about all of our outlying 

 islands during the spring and summer months. 



In August and September Petrels are more abundant off our 

 southwestern coast than during the rest of the year. The birds 

 that have finished nesting congregate in regions where food is 

 abundant, often following vessels for long distances to pick up 

 what scraps of suitable food may be thrown over. I have on 



> Auk, XV, Jan. 1S9S, p. 3/ 



