THE LEACH'S PETREL 



361 



A PETREL BURROW IN A BANK 



tunnels are found in the banks and on 

 the ground or under rocks all over the 

 island. The petrels are especially fond 

 of making them among the raspberry 

 bushes, probably because of the fact that 

 the ground is softer there, and conse- 

 quently easier to tunnel. The tunnels 

 .are from 18 to 24 inches in length, with 

 at least one turn, and descend at an angle 

 of about 30 degrees. At the end the 

 tunnel is slightly enlarged or scooped 

 out, and a few straws and blades of 

 grass gathered in a little heap constitute 

 the nest on which the bird lays its one 

 egg. This egg is about one and a quar- 

 ter inches in length, white, with small 

 faint reddish-brown spots on the large 

 end, and is very fragile. 



One of the birds is always on the nest 

 during the day, while its mate is far out 

 at sea. I say far out, as the petrel is 

 very rarely seen near the coast. Some 

 ornithologists have stated that the male 

 third usually sits on the nest during the 



day. While I am not in a position 

 actually to disprove this, I doubt if it is 

 the rule, my belief being founded upon 

 recent observations, when spending the 

 night among the petrels watching their 

 nocturnal habits as they return from sea. 



Their burrows or tunnels will just 

 admit the hand and arm, and if one has 

 a fairly long reach one can withdraw the 

 sitting bird from the nest. They are 

 comparatively tame, although, as a means 

 of defense against any intruder in their 

 nest, they will emit from the mouth about 

 a teaspoonful of a reddish-brown fluid, 

 which is most pungent and of a strong 

 musky odor. 



When brought into the light the birds 

 seem to be somewhat blinded by the 

 brightness, and for a few moments will 

 pose most considerately ; but they shortly 

 become used to the change, and will work 

 their way clear of the long grass and 

 other obstructions until their wings are 

 free, when they take to flight. On the 



