on BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 
have found them nesting on the small rocky San Benito Island, fifty miles off the 
coast of the peninsula. So far I have never found the Least Petrel nesting in bur- 
rows. They have always been taken from the crevices in rocky ledges or among 
the loose stones. The pearly white egg is laid on the bare rock. Usually several 
are found within a few feet if desirable crevices are numerous. Young were taken 
as late as September 7 or 8 that were but a few days old. They were like the 
young of the three species of Oceanodroma I have mentioned, except for size. All 
are covered with sooty or slaty black down, through which the feathers appear 
when the bird is nearly or quite fully grown.” 
The passage just quoted contains practically all that is known at present 
respecting the breeding habits, as well as the general distribution, of the Least 
Petrel. An egg in my collection, taken by Mr. Anthony at San Benito Island, 
Lower California, July 26, 1896, is dead white without gloss or obvious mark- 
ings. It is ovate in shape, and measures 1.03 X .74. 
Oceanodroma melania (Bonapr.). 
Buack PETREL. 
Thalassidroma melania Bairp, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1869, 301, 806 (Cape St. 
Lucas). 
Cymochorea melania Cours ex Bonap., [bid., 1864, 76, 77 (descr. Cape St. Lucas 
specimen; crit.). Exxior, Illustr. New and Unfig. N. Amer. Birds, II. 1869, 
pl. 61 (descr. and figures specimen from Cape St. Lucas). 
Cymochorea melaena Ripaway, Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus., V. 1883, 534, footnote (Cape 
St. Lucas). 
Oceanodroma melania Bryant, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 2d ser., II. 1889, 253 (Cape 
Region). 
Oceanodroma townsendi Ripaway, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., X VI. 1898, 687, 688 (orig. 
descr. ; type from Cape St. Lucas). 
Without doubt the Black Petrel, also, is a regular visitor to the waters im- 
mediately about Cape St. Lucas, although the specimen obtained there by Mr. 
Xantus over forty years ago is, I believe, the only one known to have been 
taken in that immediate neighborhood. In 1889, however, additional exam- 
ples were collected near Guaymas by Mr. Townsend, and during the past 
fifteen years Mr. Anthony has apparently met with many others at various 
points to the northward of the Cape along both coasts of the Peninsula as well 
as, On one occasion, only about forty miles to the westward of San Diego, Cali- 
fornia.!’ From what the observer last-named has put on record it may be 
inferred that the bird is of regular and by no means uncommon occurrence, 
especially off the Pacific coast of Lower California. According to Professor 
Baird a specimen was obtained near San Francisco by Mr. Gruber at some 
time previous to 1859, and Dr. Cooper includes the species in a list of birds 
1 Auk, XI. 1894, 321, 322. 
