The Bird Book Part 12

Range.--South Pacific, from southern California southward, breeding on the small islands on both coasts of Lower California. They are similar to the Leach's Petrel except that the rump is blackish. Data.--San Benito Is., Lower California, July 23, 1896. White egg laid on bare ground at the end of three foot burrow. Size 1.40 1. Collector, A. W.

Anthony.

108. ASHY PETREL. _Oceanodroma h.o.m.ochroa._

Range.--California coast, breeding on the Farallones and Santa Barbara Islands.

This species, while not common, nests in all manner of localities on the Farallones, concealing their eggs under any rock or in any crevice that may attract their fancy. Their single white egg is only faintly if at all wreathed with fine dust-like specks of reddish brown. Size 1.15 .86. Data.--Farallone Is., California, June 12, 1895. Egg laid on sand in crevice at the base of a stone wall; well concealed. Collector, Chester Barlow.

108.1. SOCORRO PETREL. _Oceanodroma socorroensis._

Breeds on Socorro, San Benito and Coronado Islands, placing its eggs at the end of burrow. Data.--San Benito Is., Lower California, July 12, 1897. Single egg at the end of a burrow 3 feet in length. Egg pure white very finely wreathed with pale reddish brown. Size 1.15 .87.

Collector, A. W. Anthony.

[Ill.u.s.tration 072: Black Petrel. Ashy Petrel.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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109. WILSON'S PETREL. _Oceanites oceanicus._

Breeds in the southern hemisphere in February and March and spends the summer off the Atlantic coast as far north as Newfoundland. This species can be distinguished from Leach Petrel by its square tail and from the Stormy Petrel by its large size and yellow webs to its feet. These birds are the greatest wanderers of the genus, being found at different seasons in nearly all quarters of the globe. Their single egg is white.

Size 1.25 .90.

110. WHITE-BELLIED PETREL. _Fregetta grallaria._

A small species (length about 7.5 inches) inhabiting southern seas.

Recorded once at Florida. General plumage blackish. Upper tail coverts, bases of tail feathers, under wing coverts, and abdomen, white.

111. WHITE-FACED PETREL. _PelaG.o.droma marina._

Range.--Southern seas, accidentally north to the coast of Ma.s.sachusetts.

This beautiful species is of about the same size as the Leach's Petrel.

It has bluish gray upper parts; the whole under parts, as well as the forehead and sides of head, are white.

These birds have the same characteristics as do others of the species, pattering over the water with their feet as they skim over the crests and troughs of the waves. They are not uncommon in the waters about New Zealand where they breed. Their single eggs are about the same as Leach's Petrel, are brilliant white and are, very strongly, for a Petrel egg, wreathed about the large end with dots of reddish brown. Size 1.32 .90. Data.--Chatham Is., New Zealand, January 7, 1901. Egg laid at end of a burrow. Collector, J. Lobb. This egg is in Mr. Thayer's collection.

[Ill.u.s.tration 073: Wilson's Petrel. White-billed Petrel. White-faced Petrel.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS. Order IV. STEGANOPODES TROPIC BIRDS. Family PHAETHONTIDAE

Tropic Birds are Tern-like birds, having all the toes connected by a web, and having the two central tail feathers very much lengthened.

112. YELLOW-BILLED TROPIC BIRD. _Phaethon america.n.u.s._

Range.--Tropical regions, breeding in the Bahamas, West Indies and the Bermudas, casual in Florida and along the South Atlantic coast.

The Tropic Birds are the most strikingly beautiful of all the sea birds; they are about 30 inches in length, of which their long slender tail takes about 20 inches. They fly with the ease and grace of a Tern, but with quicker wing beats. They feed on small fish, which they capture by darting down upon, and upon snails which they get from the beach and ledges. They build their nests in the crevices and along the ledges of the rocky cliffs. While gregarious to a certain extent they are not nearly as much so as the Terns. The nest is made of a ma.s.s of seaweed and weeds; but one egg is laid, this being of a creamy or pale purplish ground color, dotted and sprinkled with chestnut, so thickly as to often obscure the ground color. Size 2.10 1.45. Data.--Coney Is., Bermudas, May 1, 1901. Nest made of moss and seaweed in a crevice on ledge of cliff. Collector, A. H. Verrill.

[Ill.u.s.tration 074: Dull purplish.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Yellow-billed Tropic Bird. Red-billed Tropic Bird.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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113. RED-BILLED TROPIC BIRD. _Phaethon aethereus._

Range.--Tropical seas, chiefly in the Pacific Ocean; north to southern California.

They breed on several islands in the Gulf of California. This species differs from the preceding in having a red bill, and the back being barred with black. Their plumage has a peculiar satiny appearance and is quite dazzling when viewed in the sunlight. They are strong fliers and are met with, hundreds of miles from land. They often rest upon the water, elevating their long tails to keep them from getting wet. They nest, as do the preceding species, on rocky islands and are said to also build their nests in trees or upon the ground. The single egg that they lay has a creamy ground and is minutely dotted with chestnut. Size 2.40 1.55. Data.--Daphone Is., Galapagos Is., South Pacific, March 6, 1901.

Egg laid in hole of a sea cliff. The eggs are easily told from those of the yellow-billed by their much larger size. Collector, R. H. Beck.

113.1 RED-TAILED TROPIC BIRD. _Phaethon rubricaudus._

Range.--Tropical regions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, accidental off the coast of Lower California.

This is a singularly beautiful species resembling the latter except that the central tail feathers are bright red, with the extreme tips white.

During August and September they breed in large colonies on small islands in the South Seas. On Mauritius Island they build their nests either in the trees or place them on the ground; the nest is made of seaweed, sticks and weeds; numbers of them nest on Laysan Is., of the Hawaiian group, concealing their nests on the ground under overhanging brush.

The single egg has a pale purplish ground speckled with brown.

[Ill.u.s.tration 075: Pale purplish.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Pale purplish ground color.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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GANNETS. Family SULIDAE

Gannets are large stoutly built birds, having the four toes joined by a web; they have a small naked pouch beneath the bill; the bill is a little longer than the head, and the tail is quite short. The plumage of the adults is generally white, that of the young grayish.

114. BLUE-FACED b.o.o.bY. _Sula syanops._

Range.--Widely distributed in the tropical seas, north casually to Florida and breeding in the Bahamas.

Like the rest of the Gannets, this one is stupid and will often remain on the nest until removed with the hand, merely hissing at the intruder.

Often they lay their eggs on the bare ground, but sometimes the nest is lined with seaweed or gra.s.s. They lay either one or two eggs early in April. These eggs are of a dull white color and are heavily covered with a chalky deposit. Size 2.50 1.70. Data.--Clarion Is., Mexico, May 24, 1897. Nest a mere hollow in the sand near the beach. Collector, A. W.