LEACH PETREL
106. Oceanodroma leucorhoa. 8 in.
Tail forked; tail coverts white, not tipped with black; legs much shorter than those of [Wilson Petrel], which is the only other common species on our eastern coasts. Leach Petrel is a very abundant breeding bird on Maine islands and northward. Some of the soft peaty banks of islands are honeycombed with entrances to their burrows, which extend back, near the surface of the ground, for two or three feet, and terminate in an enlarged chamber. Here one of the birds is always found during the period of incubation, and sometimes both birds, but one is usually at sea feeding during the daytime, returning at night to relieve its mate. All petrels and their eggs have a peculiar, characteristic and oppressive odor.
Notes.—A weak clucking.
Nest.—Single egg at end of burrow; white with a very faint ring of brown dots around the large end.
Range.—Breeds northward from Maine; winters to Virginia.
TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS—Order Steganopodes
TROPIC BIRD—Family Phæthontidæ
YELLOW-BILLED TROPIC BIRD
112. Phæthon americanus. 30 to 34 in.
Form tern-like, but with the central tail feathers much lengthened (about 18 in.); legs short and not very strong; all four toes connected by webs.
These beautiful creatures fly with the ease and grace of a [tern], but with more rapid beating of the wings. They are strong and capable of protracted flight, often being found hundreds of miles from land. They feed upon small fish which they capture by diving upon from a height above the water, and upon snails, etc., that they get from the beaches and ledges. They are very buoyant, and sit high in the water with their tails elevated to keep them from getting wet.
Nest.—A mass of weeds and seaweed placed upon rocky ledges. The single egg that they lay is creamy, so thickly sprinkled and dotted with purplish brown as to obscure the ground color (2.10 × 1.45).
Range.—Breeds north to the Bahamas and Bermudas.
GANNETS—Family Sulidæ
BLUE-FACED BOOBY
114. Sula cyanops. 28 in.
Bill, face and naked throat pouch, slaty-blue; eye yellow; feet reddish. Plumage white except the primaries, secondaries and other tail feathers, which are black. Young birds are streaked above with gray and brownish, and are dull white below. Boobies are birds of wide distribution in the Tropics, this species being rarely seen in southern Florida, but quite abundant on some of the West Indian islands. Owing to the numerous air cells beneath their skin, they are very buoyant and can ride the waves with ease during severe storms. They secure their prey, which is chiefly fish, by plunging after it.
Nest.—Their one or two eggs are laid usually upon the bare ground on low islands, or sometimes in weed-lined hollows. The eggs are pure white, covered with a thick chalky deposit (2.50 × 1.70).
Range.—Breeds north to the Bahamas and the Gulf of California; sometimes strays to Florida.
