The Leach Petrels 



the nearest point where it was at all possible to scale the rock. 



The islet is about a hundred feet high, precipitous upon three sides, 

 but sloping and climbable upon the south. The top has an area of some- 

 thing over an acre, and is unique for the abundance and uniformity of a 

 rank grass which occupies the greater portion centrally. The grass has a 

 stoutly-projecting midrib so that it stands up at a height of two and a half 

 feet, its roots being imbedded in a covering of its own waste to a depth of 

 six or eight inches more. Circling all about this central bed is a border of 

 close-set wiry turf, while a narrow stretch of the dwarf salmon-berry 

 bushes, peculiar to this coast, occupies the northern crest of the slope. 



Immediately upon arrival our attention was called to tiny openings 

 in the grass, the orifices 

 of subterranean bur- 

 rows. Sometimes the 

 entrance was clear-cut 

 and open, with a little 

 runway beneath paved 

 (more by accident and 

 use, perhaps, than by 

 design) with little peb- 

 bles; but quite as often, 

 the mouth of the bur- 

 row was hidden by a 

 tangle of interlacing 

 grass-stems. The tun- 

 nels are about two and a 

 half inches wide at the 

 mouth, and run in from 

 two to three feet. They 

 seldom run straight, but 

 twist about at random, 

 widening as they proceed, until a considerable nesting chamber is reached. 



Here, according to the season, may be found two adult birds, a bird 

 and an egg, or a bird and young. In the first case it is the male bird keep- 

 ing company with his mate for several weeks before the single egg is laid. 

 During this honeymoon it is possible that the birds dine out together; but 

 when the egg is laid, the male spends the day at sea, visiting his brooding 

 mate only at late nightfall. Likewise, after the chick is hatched, it is the 

 male who provides the food for mother and babe until such time as the 

 rising appetite of the junior troglodyte requires the services of both parents. 



When removed from the nest, the parent bird appears dazed and 

 blinded, and seldom seeks to escape by flight. Taken into the hand, it 



20/6 



Taken in Washington Photo by the Author 



CALIFORNIA MAMOOK ISKUM DHUOYUATZ 



IN OTHER WORDS,, THE INDIAN ("CALIFORNIA" HOBUCKET), IS DIGGING OUT 

 BEAL PETRELS 



