British Birds. 
2 [4 
The Petrels .— Order Procellariiformes. 
Petrels may always 
appearance, by their 
mostly inhabitants of 
north, and, therefore, 
THE TRUE 
STORM-PETRELS. 
Sub-family 
PROCELL ARIINJE. 
be distinguished from Gulls, which many of them resemble in 
tubular nostrils. The Order contains a number of species, 
the southern or tropical seas. But few species breed in the 
most of our Petrels are rare or occasional visitors. 
The members of this Sub-family are small black 
birds, and are distinguished by having the nostrils united 
above the ridge of the bill. The secondary quills are 
thirteen in number, and the claws are sharp and 
compressed. 
The Storm-Petrel. 
THE 
STORM-PETREL. 
( Procellaria 
pclagica.) 
black, with the 
The Storm- 
Petrel is recog- 
nised by its 
rounded or even 
tail. It is sooty- 
rump and upper 
tail-coverts white, the latter tipped 
with black. It breeds on the islands 
off the coasts of Wales and Scotland, 
as well as in similar localities in 
Ireland, where some large colonies 
are known to nest. The single 
white egg is laid in holes of rocks 
or burrows, with a few blades of 
grass for a nest, and many birds are 
found breeding in close proximity. 
The Storm-Petrel does not venture forth from its burrow during the day-time, 
but is very active at night. The egg measures a little more than an inch in 
length, and is white, with a thin sprinkling of tiny reddish-brown spots, some 
times forming a zone round the larger end. 
