BIRDS OF THE OPEN SEA 23 



as Kaeding petrels. There is little to distinguish the 

 two except size, the latter being slightly smaller and 

 darker than the Eastern species. In breeding habits the 

 two are probably identical. Male and female take part 

 in sitting upon the single egg — sometimes one of the 

 pair, sometimes both together. The newly hatched 

 young are fed by regurgitation of a brownish oily fluid. 

 Like the forked-tailed petrel, this species ejects the oil 

 from its throat and stomach if molested. The odor 

 clings to nest, eggs and young. 



107. BLACK PETREL. — Oceanodroma melania. 

 Family : The Fulmars and Shearwaters. 



Length: 8.00-9.00. 



Adult : Dusky blackish, lighter on under parts ; greater wing-coverts 

 and outer webs of tertials light ash-color. 



Geographical Distribution: South Pacific, northward to Los Angeles 

 County, California. 



Breeding Range : Islands off the coast of Southern California and south- 

 ward to the equator. 



Breeding Season : July. 



Nest : Bare ground, or burrow one to three feet in depth. 



Eggs: 1 ; pure white ; elliptical oval. Size 1.44 X 1.08. 



The Black Petrel, while less common than the ashy, 

 is yet a resident on the ocean adjacent to Southern 

 California. Mr. Grinnell reports it as far north as Santa 

 Barbara, and as breeding on Los Coronados Islands, off 

 San Diego. Like all its family, it comes to land only to 

 nest, and any acquaintance with it must be made from a 

 boat, or during the breeding season at the islands. It 



