BIRDS OF THE OCEAN AND SEASHORE 
265 
PLATE XXXV 
BIRDS OF THE OCEAN AND SEASHORE 
1. Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus Kuhl 
6-ce-an-i-tes — Gk, oceanites, son of Ocean : d-ce-ari-ic-us — L. f oceanicus , 
of the ocean. 
Distribution. — Southern oceans, to Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, 
and New Caledonia, ranging north to California, Labrador, the British 
Isles, and India. 
Motes. — Also called Mother Carey's Chicken, Yellow- webbed Storm- 
petrel, and Flat-clawed Storm-petrel. Usually in flocks, generally seen 
flying close to the surface of the water, and occasionally to and fro across 
the wake of a ship. Its flight is usually very erratic, somewhat like that of 
a butterfly, and it often aids its progress by patting the water with its 
feet, bounding along with a series of leaps. Its food consists chiefly of 
small plankton organisms procured from the surface of the water, the fat 
from dead whales or seals, and refuse from ships' galleys. Breeds in 
colonies in Antarctica, on islets off Cape Horn, on the South Shetlands, 
South Orkneys, and South Georgia, and Kerguelen and Heard Islands. 
Nest. — In a chamber at the end of a tunnel; lined with feathers. 
Egg. — Dull white, sometimes sparingly dotted with reddish spots; 
occasionally these spots form a ring round the larger end. Breeding- 
season : December to February. 
2, Grey-backed Storm-petrel Garrodia nereis Gould 
Garrodia — A. H. Garrod (1846-18 79), anatomist and ornithologist. 
Prosector to the Zoological Society, London : ne-re-is — Gk, nereis , 
Nereid, sea-nymph. 
Distribution. — Southern oceans, to South Georgia, the Falkland 
Islands, New Zealand, Tasmania, and south-eastern Australia. 
Notes. — Also called Mother Carey's Chicken. Usually in flocks; 
it is similar in habits and economy to Wilson's Storm-petrel. Breeds in 
colonies on South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, Kerguelen Island, and 
New Zealand, and the Chatham, Bounty, and Auckland Islands. 
Nest. — In a chamber at the end of a tunnel. The burrow is about 18 
inches in length, and resembles a rat-hole. 
Egg . — White, covered with -fine deep reddish-brown and lavender 
dots at the larger end, and with a few reddish ones sparingly distributed 
over the rest of the surface. Breeding-season : November to January. 
