308 THE FORK-TAILED PETREL 



Mediterranean, and is not an uncommon visitor to our shores, 

 especially during severe weather. 



Its note is only heard during the season of incubation, when its 

 retreat is often betrayed by a low twittering. 



Storm-Petrels are gregarious birds ; they breed in colonies, 

 and skim the sea in small flocks. The French steamers which sail 

 between Toulon and Algiers are said to be regularly accompanied 

 by these birds. 



THE FORK-TAILED PETREL 



PROCELLARIA LEUCORRHOA 



General plumage like the last ; tail forked ; legs moderate ; membrane dusky 

 Length seven and a quarter inches. Eggs white, marked with small 

 rusty spots. 



The Fork-Tailed Petrel, a native of North America, does not 

 differ materially in habits from the other species. It is met with 

 almost annually on our east coast, and is common off Cornwall. 

 In Ireland it is frequent. This species was first declared to be 

 a British bird by Bullock, who found it at St. Kilda in 1818. 



Addition for page 302. 



THE BLACK-NECKED OR EARED GREBE 



PODICIPES NIGRICOLLIS 



In summer the head and neck of this species are black, with a triangular 

 patch of long golden-reddish feathers on the ear-coverts. Breast and 

 belly white — flanks a dull chestnut, bill black, upcurved slightly. In 

 winter it resembles the last named Grebe in plumage, excepting that it 

 is white on the primaries. Length twelve inches. 



This is essentially a bird of the south, visiting us in spring and 

 summer, but also now and again in autumn and winter, but this 

 more rarely. It is said to have bred occasionally in the southern 

 counties, and more often in Suffolk and Norfolk. To the north it 

 becomes more scarce, although it has been observed up to the 

 Orkneys. Just a few instances are recorded from Cumberland, but 

 the bird is rare on our western side. Very few have been met with 

 in Ireland. In Algeria it is said to nest in " societies more densely 

 crowded than any rookery," the nests being raised on islets with 

 stout foundations constructed by the bird. In Denmark the nests 

 observed were on tussocks at the edge of the lake, and they were 

 made of moss, part of which the female used to cover her eggs with 

 on leaving them. 



