PETRELS 



(104) Thalassidroma pelagica 



{Linn.) (Gr., sea-wanderer; oceanic). 



STORM PETREL. Plumage 

 sooty-black; upper tail coverts white, 

 the longer feathers broadly black- 

 tipped; tail sqviare-ended. L., 5.50; 

 W., 4.50; T., 2.50; Tar., .90; B., .45. 



Range — An European species said 

 to occur oil: Newfoundland and New 

 Brunswick. 



(106) Oceanodroma leucorhoa 



{VUill.) (Gr., ocean-running; white-rump). 



LEACH'S PETREL. Plumage 

 as shown in opposite picture. Upper 

 tail coverts almost entirely white; 

 tail forked. L., 8.00; W., 6.25; T., 

 3.50, forked .75; Tar., i.oo; B., .65. 



Range — Breeds along the coast 

 from Me. to Greenland. Winters 

 olT the coast south casually to Va. 



as "Hags," "Haglets," or "Hagdons." Their flight is 

 usually close to the water, performed by alternating a few 

 flaps of the long wings, then a short sail. 



PETRELS are distinctly pelagic birds. Except during 

 the nesting season they rarely come to land, but may be 

 found from a mile or more off shore to several thousand 

 miles. They are truly "ocean-runners," as their technical 

 name designates. Rarely do they rise more than a few 

 feet above the surface, nor is their flight swift, yet it is very 

 easily performed, for their bodies are light and their wings 

 ample in size. They rise and fall with the swell, so closely 

 to the water that they actually seem to be walking upon it. 



All petrels found off our shores are very commonly called 

 "Mother Gary's Chickens." Two species regularly occur, 

 Wilson's, which is the most common during the summer 

 months, and Leach's, which is the only one found in late fall. 



LEACH'S PETRELS breed on coasts and islands from 

 Maine northward. They nest in colonies, digging burrows 



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