THE STOKM I'ETKKL. 
3G7 
and totally unacquainted with it myself, even by name, hitherto, 
I have nothing more to say on the subject. It seems well 
just to thus insert the name, not as claiming for the author 
the discovery in Shetland of the Dusky Petrel, whatever the 
bird may he, hut as indicating to naturalists exploring the 
islands that there is some reason to suspect the occasional 
presence there of a meinher of the Shearwater group, neither 
r. cincrciis nor P. Anglorum, the identification of which may 
reward the vigilance of a careful observer. — Ed.] 
THE STOEM PETEEL. 
Thalassidroma fclagica. 
SPENCIE — SWALLOW. 
It is not until the early part of June that this charming 
little bird resorts to the breeding places, where the laying 
usually begins about the middle of the month, though in 
exceptional seasons the egg will not be found until after the 
first week in July, the Storm Petrel being decidedly a late 
breeder. Whole colonies may be found deep down among 
large loose boulders upon the beach, among loose stones and rocks 
in the cliffs, and occasionally in unfinished rabbit burrows, not 
more than two or three feet deep. During the day the birds 
are always silent, so far as I know, until the nests begin to be 
exposed by the removal of the stones ; but at night a constant 
chattering is kept up, which at once draws attention to the 
spot. A stranger may pass and repass continually along the 
rugged beach without having the smallest idea that he is 
walking over the heads of dozens of the little Petrels, sitting 
quietly a yard or so below. They are at once betrayed, how- 
ever, to the experienced in such matters by the peculiar musky 
odour which is never absent from birds of this genus. 
I have very seldom seen Petrels flying in the day-time, and 
upon the few occasions on which I have witnessed such an 
unusual sight the weather has been foggy, and the birds have 
