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they disgorge large quantities of an oily matter, which quickly congeals and assumes the appear- 

 ance of dirty lard." 



On the American side of the Atlantic the present species is found from the coasts of New 

 Brunswick down to South America. Mr. G. A. Boardman informs me that it is common on the 

 fishing-grounds in the Bay of Fundy ; and Audubon writes that he rarely saw it further to the 

 eastward than the Azores, and along the American coast he did not meet with it to the north- 

 ward beyond the 51st degree of latitude, while to the southward he rarely observed many on 

 the Gulf of Mexico. He adds that he does not believe that any breed on the shores of the 

 Floridas, or on the Bahamas, as alleged by Wilson, who, it seems, only stated so from report. 

 Wedderburn and Hurdis say that in stormy weather Wilson's Petrel is often seen near the 

 Bermudas, and has been also once or twice seen within the outer reefs, but it is a difficult bird 

 to shoot ; and Dr. Gundlach records it from Cuba, and writes (J. f. 0. 1859, p. 349) as follows : — 

 " Returning from Cabo Cruz to Cuba 1 first saw two specimens south of the Turquino Mountain 

 near the coast, and nine others about a mile from the Bay of Cuba." Although Audubon only 

 met with it down as far south as Mexico, it occurs all down the coasts of south America, though, 

 owing to its oceanic habits, it is comparatively seldom met with close to the coast. There is a 

 specimen from off the coast of Peru in the museum at Turin ; and it has been recorded from other 

 parts off the South- American coasts. 



To the southward this Petrel is found in the Indian Ocean to the coasts of Australia and 

 Kerguelen Land, and breeds on the latter island. Gould (B. of Australia, ii. p. 478) states, it 

 is " one of the most abundant species of the genus inhabiting the Australian seas : I observed 

 it in great numbers within sight of the shores of Tasmania, and shot and preserved several 

 specimens during my passage from Sydney to Hobart Town in April 1839; I also encountered 

 it in the following year in the seas between Sydney and New Zealand while on my passage 

 towards Cape Horn." Captain Hutton, in his Notes on the Birds seen on a Voyage to New 

 Zealand (Ibis, 1867, p. 190), says that " this Petrel was seen several times in the northern tempe- 

 rate zone, but not in the tropics. It reappeared again in about 33° S., and continued common 

 until May 2nd, lat. 39° 3' S., long. 33° 9' E., and was then only occasionally seen to May 18th, 

 lat. 40° 40' S., long. 88° 39' E., on which date the last was seen." 



Audubon gives (B. of America, viii. p. 108) some notes respecting the present species, which 

 I transcribe as follows, viz. : — " Wilson's Petrel breeds on some small islands situated off the 

 southern extremity of Nova Scotia, and called ' Mud Islands,' but which are formed of sand and 

 light earth, scantily covered with grass. Thither the birds resort in great numbers, about the 

 beginning of June, and form burrows of the depth of two or two and a half feet, in the bottom 

 of which is laid a single white egg, a few bits of dry grass, scarcely deserving the name of a nest, 

 having been placed for its reception. The egg measures an inch and a half in length by seven 

 eighths of an inch in breadth, is almost equally rounded at both ends, and has a pure white 

 colour. These Petrels copulate on the water, in the same manner as the Hyperborean Phalarope. 

 By the beginning of August the young follow their parents to sea, and are then scarcely distin- 

 guishable from them. During incubation they remain in the burrows or at their entrance, rarely 

 going to seek for food before the dusk. 



" On wing this species is more lively than the Forked-tailed, but less so than the common 



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