502 



incubated on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of June. The egg only differs in size from that of Th. 

 pelagica, being white, with a pink zone round the larger end. We could always detect which 

 holes were occupied, by the twittering notes uttered by the birds, which were very similar to 

 those of Hirundo rustica. I did not notice any semblance of a nest. The common Storm- 

 Petrel had only just commenced to breed, and did not appear to be so numerous as Leach's 

 Petrel. This latter is found on the four islands constituting the St. Kilda group ; whereas the 

 Storm-Petrel was only met with on Soa. We had such lovely weather that we were able to visit 

 all the islands in an open boat, with the exception of Soa, which Mr. Graham and a party of the 

 islanders explored for us." 



On the American coasts it breeds numerously on the islands at the mouth of the Bay of 

 Fundy, whence I have for long had its eggs sent to me, and have supplied many of our 

 British collectors with specimens. When in New Brunswick, I arranged with my friend 

 Mr. George A. Boardman, of St. Stephens, to send out annually and collect a number of these 

 eggs, as, not being able to visit the coast during the egging-season, I was never able to under- 

 take an expedition and collect them for myself. Mr. Boardman, however, was more fortunate, 

 and has taken the eggs with his own hands. He informs me that " this Petrel prefers the grassy 

 islands, where it can burrow its hole like the Sand-Martin under the sod ; and it frequently digs 

 under rocks, making a hole varying from two to three feet in depth. It lays a single egg in a 

 little flat nest formed of fine grasses gathered loosely together; and frequently the bird also 

 collects a few smooth pebbles and places them in its nest-hole. The young when hatched are 

 covered with long loose down, and look more like a little long-haired mouse than a bird, as 

 neither bill nor wing are visible. During the day-time one rarely sees any of the birds at their 

 breeding-place ; and I think they feed at night ; for we usually found the old birds in their holes, 

 where they can be heard as one walks about, as they utter a low note like peer wit, which is 

 heard in all directions. When you seize the old bird it almost always ejects a very nasty- 

 smelling oily matter through the nostril." 



I have a large series of the eggs of this Petrel, all obtained on the islands at the mouth of 

 the Bay of Fundy, off the coast of New Brunswick. In texture of shell, shape, and colour they 

 closely resemble the eggs of Thalassidroma pelagica, and are pure white, with an indistinct zone 

 of small reddish spots round the larger end. In some these spots are very pale, and in others 

 much darker ; one or two have a few larger spots here and there in the zone, which are almost 

 blood-red in colour, or at least as dark as the markings on eggs of Titmice or Willow- Wrens. 

 In size they vary from 1^ by f£ to 1-jf by f § inch. 



The specimen figured, on the same Plate with the Storm-Petrel, is an adult bird caught at 

 the breeding-station in the Bay of Fundy, and now in my collection. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser, 

 a, b, ad., c, pull. Bay of Fundy, May. 



E Mus. E. Hargitt. 

 a, <3 . Havre, November 17th, 1873 (Pluche). b. Labrador (Moschler). 



