40 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVII 
or thirty is the home of the forked-tailed, but beyond this point it is useless 
to speculate. 
Not only is there no external mark whereby the burrow of the Forked- 
tailed Petrel may be distinguished, but the close resemblance between the home 
of this bird and that of Leach’s extends to the burrow, the nest and even to 
the egg. The only certain method of distinguishing the eggs and young is to 
find them with the parent. Furthermore the native’s observations regarding 
both species show them to have the same general habits. In the case of the 
forked-tailed one of the parents remains out on the open ocean during the 
day. It returns about nightfall to relieve its mate, and again sets out to sea 
in the early morning. According to the natives the food consists of “crabs”, 
probably meaning shrimps. 
11. Haematopus bachmani. Black Oystercatcher. Probably fifty pairs 
of oystercatchers nested on the shores of Forrester, Lawrie and South islands, 
during the season of 1913. The few nests actually discovered were situated 
Fig. 18. Nest of Black Oystercatcher on Forrester 
Island, southeastern Alaska 
on rock masses a few feet above the high tide mark, and contained one or 
two eggs each. The building material in every instance consisted of small 
fragments of stones, ranging in amount from a couple of ounces to half a 
pound. The first eggs were noted on June 18, and young birds were seen 
on July 10. 
The precocial fledglings very early accompanied their parents on short 
journeys about the cliffs, and within a week after hatching were observed 
pecking at limpets, although it is highly probable that for several days there- 
after they depended on the old birds for the greater part of their food supply. 
During this time the young resemble diminutive ostriches with thick-set legs, 
big feet and fluffy plumage, which, it may be added, harmonizes to a high de- 
gree with the surroundings. Furthermore they have the same habit of hiding 
the head when it is not possible to conceal the entire body beneath a stone. 
From the stomach contents of adults, and judging by the shells scattered about 
the nests, the food of the black oystercatcher consists wholly of limpets. 
