The Black Petrel 



nesting sites of these petrels, the insufficiency of such cover drives many 

 to share the teeming rock-slides with the Cassin Auklets, and others to 

 burrow in the open ground. Others still are to be found skulking under 

 boards or logs in the drift of the tiny beaches. 



The Farallon Islands are given as the type locality, and the species 

 is known chiefly from the Southeast Farallon, upon which the lighthouse 

 stands. There is, however, an early account of their nesting on San Miguel, 

 although this has not recently been confirmed, perhaps owing to the 

 changing character of the island surface. Mr. Howard W. Wright found 

 a few breeding in the Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island. Their presence 

 in adjacent waters during the breeding season assures us that other col- 

 onies will yet be found on the Santa Barbara Islands. Of its migrations 

 we know little ; and it is probable that it does not depart widely in winter 

 from its breeding area. 



The former name, "Ashy Petrel," as applied to this bird, is very 

 misleading. Its use suggests a type of coloration similar to that of the 

 Fork-tailed (0. furcata), whereas the general cast of color is only a little 

 less sooty than that of 0. I. beali. It does incline to "plumbeous," but is 

 much nearer black than "ashy." Rather than perpetuate this misconcep- 

 tion, we recommend the use of the name of the original describer, Coues. 



No. 415 



Black Petrel 



A. O. U. Xo. 107. Oceanodroma melania (Bonaparte). 



Synonym. — Black Fork-tailed Petrel. 



Description. — Adult: In general sooty black; color of wing-quills and tail 

 scarcely more intense than cervix and lesser wing-coverts; paler, sooty brown, below: 

 palest, drab or even whitish, on tips of middle and exposed portions of greater wing- 

 coverts. Length (av. of 10 Monterey specimens): 232 (9.13); wing 174.7 (6-85); tail 

 83 (3.27), depth of fork 25.8 (1.02); bill 15.3 (.60), depth at base 7 (.27); tarsus 31.9 

 (1.25). 



Recognition Marks. — The largest and blackest of the California petrels; no 

 white on rump; much larger than homochroa. 



Nesting. — Much as in 0. I. beali. Av. size of egg 35.1 x 25.9 (1.38 x 1.02). 

 Season: Late June, early July. 



General Range. — Breeds from Los Coronados Islands south to Tres Marias 

 Islands, off coast of western Mexico. Forages north at least to Monterey. 



Distribution in California. — Common in summer in southern coastal waters 

 and around the Santa Barbara Islands, and ranges north to Monterey. Not known 

 to breed in California, but probably does so. 



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