BIRDS OF THE OCEAN AND SEASHORE 260 
plants growing on hillsides, and often connect and form other en¬ 
trances to the nesting-chamber. 
egg. White. Breeding-season: October and November. 
13. Broad-billed Prion Pachyptila vittata Gmelin 
Pach-y-ptiV-a—G k, pachys, thick; Gk, ptilon, feather: vil-td'-ta— L., 
vittatus, banded. 
distribution. Southern oceans, between latitudes 60°S. and 40°S., 
occasionally north to Madagascar and Reunion Island. 
notes. Also called Dove-petrel, Whale-bird, and Ice-bird. Usually 
in flocks, frequenting the seas of southern Australia and Tasmania. It 
is usually seen in flocks flying swiftly over the surface of the water. 
Occasionally during stormy weather numbers of this species are washed 
up on the beaches along the coast of New South Wales. Its food con¬ 
sists chiefly of plankton organisms, procured from the surface of the 
sea. Breeds in colonies on the Chatham Islands and on South Georgia, 
Tristan da Cunha, and Gough, the Crozet, Marion, and St Paul Islands. 
nest. In a chamber hollowed out at the end of a rat-like burrow 
made in slanting soil; in a natural cavity in rocks; or under densely 
matted stems and roots of pig-face weed. 
egg. White. Breeding-season: September and October, and January, 
14. Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur Kuhl 
tur'-tur— L., turtur, dove. 
distribution. Southern oceans, between latitudes 60°S. and 35°S., 
occasionally north to Madeira. 
notes. Also called Dove-petrel, Whale-bird, and Short-billed Prion. 
Usually in flocks, frequenting the seas of southern and south-eastern 
Australia, and Tasmania. It is similar in habits and economy to the 
other species of Prions. Breeds in colonies on islands in Bass Strait and 
on the Kerguelen, Chatham, Bounty, and Antipodes Islands. 
nest. In a natural cavity in rocks or under densely matted stems and 
roots of pig-face weed. 
egg. White. Breeding-season: October to December. 
15. Dove-prion Pachyptila desolata Gmelin 
desolata— Isle of Desolation, now Kerguelen Island. 
distribution. Southern oceans, between latitudes 60°S. and 
35°S.; occasionally north to the Malay Archipelago. 
notes. Also called Banks's Petrel and Whale-bird. Usually in flocks, 
frequenting the seas of southern Australia, and Tasmania. It is 
similar in habits and economy to the other species of Prions. Breeds 
in colonies on Lawrence Rocks, Portland, Victoria, also on the South 
Orkneys, South Georgia, and Kerguelen, Auckland, Antipodes, and 
Macquarie Islands. < 
nest. In a cavity at the end of a burrow. 
egg. White. Breeding-season: November to February. 
t 
