LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN PETRELS AND PELICANS. 103 



to sea. One BuUer^s shearwater was seen flying with a couple of Cooper's 

 shearwaters, a few hundred yards outside the boat. Presently another Buller's 

 came along and I winged it. Another one appeared and started after the 

 wounded bird, which was swimming rapidly away. I tossed up a dead Bona- 

 parte's gull and then a Western gull and the flying bird swung back toward 

 me and I shot It. Later, two other Buller's shearwaters came my way and 

 were secured. The flight of all these birds, in the light wind, was simildr to 

 the albatross flight, there being no flapping of wings as in Cooper's shearwater, 

 except when rising over the crest of a wave. Three of the four specimens 

 taken had the generative organs slightly enlarged. 



^ffffs. — I have been able to locate only one egg of this rare shear- 

 water. It is in the collection of Col. John E. Thayer and was col- 

 lected by William Bartlett on Mokohinu Island, New Zealand, on 

 October 20, 1900. It is ovate in shape, dull, dirty white in color, and 

 the shell is smooth but not glossy. It measures 45.5 by 32 milli- 

 meters. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Breeding range. — New Zealand seas. The only recorded breed- 

 ing place is on Mokohinu Island, New Zealand. 



Range. — Extends across the South Pacific Ocean to the coast of 

 Chile (Valparaiso) and north in the North Pacific Ocean to the 

 coast of California (Point Pinos). 



Migrations. — ^Dates: Chile, Valparaiso, February 24 to March 9; 

 California, Point Pinos, September 2 to November 4. 



Egg dates. — Mokohinu Island: One record, October 20. 



PRIOFINUS CINEREUS (Gmelin). 

 BLACK-TAILED SHEARWATER. 



HABITS. 



This large grey shearwater is a bird of the southern oceans and 

 owes its place on our list to one accidental record many years ago 

 on the coast of California. Mr. George N. Lawrence (1853) added 

 this species to the North American Fauna, when he recorded a speci- 

 men, " from the collection of N. Pike, Esq., killed off the coast of 

 California near Monterey." So far as I know, no further specimens 

 have ever been taken or recorded in North America. 



Dr. Edward A. Wilson (1907), naturalist of the National Antarctic 

 Expedition, relates his experience with this species as follows: 



Priofinus cineretts, the great grey shearwater, is a very characteristic bird 

 of the southern oceans, considerably larger than the cape pigeon, grey or bluish 

 grey all over the upper parts, and white beneath ; it may be seen occasionally 

 in the ship's wake without drawing the attention of the casual observer. But 

 one morning he will go on deck to find the ship followed by the bird, perhaps 

 in hundreds. Very hungry or very greedy, they then afford much amusement 



