412 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



of the feet as birds move along just clear of the waves. Good 

 swimmer. Sustained crooning uttered by both sexes in nesting 

 holes, is described as " purr-r-r-r-r-chee-ka " by Mrs. A. Gordon, 

 who says that the birds, or possibly male only, in their nocturnal 

 flight about their breeding-grounds have a loud, husky cry," cuch-ah, 

 cuch-ah, cuch-ah, coo-ah." 



Breeding-habits. — Usually breeds in colonies of varying size on 

 islets off the coast. Nest. — Variously placed at end of burrow in 

 peaty soil or among loose stones and boulders, occasionally in rock 

 crannies or stone -walls. Sometimes no nesting material is used, 

 but generally a few dry grasses, etc. Egg.- — One only, dull white, 

 sometimes unmarked, at other times with zone of fine red-brown 

 spots round large end. Average of 100 eggs, 27.9x21.2. Max. : 

 30.6x21.4 and 26.5x23. Min. : 25x20.5 and 27x19.1 mm. 

 Breeding -season. — Exceptionally end May, but usually latter half 

 June and early July, while young have been found in nest till Oct. 

 or even Nov. Incubation. — By both sexes. Period 36 to 42 days. 

 Single brooded. 



Food. — Little definite evidence. Pieces of fish-liver, otoliths, 

 fragments of fish, small shells, thick yellow oily matter, minute 

 seeds and apparently green seaweed, have been recorded from 

 stomachs, and insects in birds driven inland. Saunders includes 

 Crustacea and mollusca as well as small fish and fatty matter in its 

 diet. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Resident. Breeds Scilly Isles, 

 possibly an islet off Lundy, several islands off southern portion of 

 Welsh coast, many western isles Scotland, as well as Orkneys and 

 Shetlands, and several islands off north and west coasts Ireland. 

 A pair nested Bass Rock, 1904. In autumn and spring generally 

 distributed in British waters, and often driven inland in rough 

 weather ; in winter usually very scarce. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Eastern north Atlantic from Lofoten Is. 

 (and possibly on Westmann Is. near Iceland), Fseroes, locally to west 

 Mediterranean, and perhaps Canaries. In autumn and winter near 

 Heligoland and Neuwerk, on west coast Africa — rarely to S. Africa, 

 and often seen, but not obtained in Red Sea to Straits of Bab-el - 

 Mandeb, said also east coast northern N. America. Rarely inland. 



Genus OCEANODROMA Reichb. 



Ocean odeoma Beichenbach, Avium Syst. Nat., p. iv (1852 — Monotype 

 O. furcata). 



Very similar to Hydrobates but larger, tarsus not at all longer 

 than middle toe with claw, less than twice length of bill. Tail 

 longer than half the wing, more or less forked, lateral rectrices 

 being much longer than middle ones. 13 species in seas of Northern 

 Hemisphere, south to St. Helena and Peru. 



