466 PEOCELI/AEIIDiE PBOCBLDAEIA 



-Distribution. — The Storm Petrel is found throughout the Atlantic 

 Ocean from the western coasts of the British Islands southwards to 

 the Cape Seas. It is also not uncommon in the Mediterranean. 

 According to Heuglin it occurs in the Indian Ocean, near the 

 Straits of Babelmandeb in September and October during the north- 

 east monsoon. 



Within our limits Andersson nctes it from Walvisch Bay, while 

 it occasionally comes into Table Bay, as is evidenced by the speci- 

 men still in the South African Museum, procured by Mr. Layard 

 in May, 1865, but erroneously identified by him. In addition, the 

 Museum possesses an example from False Bay, obtained in January, 

 and a third recently brought to the Museum in the month of 

 September, 1900. Mr. J. G. Brown tells me he has seen the 

 Storm Petrel in Algoa Bay, but it is rare there. It is not known 

 to breed anywhere within our limits. 



Habits. — The Storm Petrel frequents the open sea at a consider- 

 able distance from the land ; it is, however, liable to be driven to 

 the coast by storms, and has been met with very far inland after 

 violent gales ; it flies with considerable ease and swiftness just 

 above the surface of the water, so that it sometimes appears to be 

 paddling along on the top of the waves. It is from this habit of 

 "walking on the water " that it is supposed to have obtained its 

 name of Petrel, after the Apostle St. Peter. 



The food of these birds consists of small Crustacea, moUusca 

 and fishes, and they frequently follow in the wake of a ship 

 in hopes of picking up fatty matter among the garbage thrown 

 out of the galley. Prom a slow-moving sailing vessel they can be 

 easily caught, by trailing out over the stern long threads slightly 

 weighted at one end ; but by sailors such a proceeding is regarded 

 as extremely unlucky and is often highly resented. It is not true, 

 however, that they connect the Storm Petrel necessarily with bad 

 weather. 



The Storm Petrel breeds in holes or cracks in the ground, 

 usually in small islands ; sometimes a slight nest is made, some- 

 times the single white egg, often faintly spotted with reddish dots, 

 is laid on the bare ground. During the time of incubation the 

 Petrels are nocturnal in their habits and are seldom seen during 

 the daytime. 



