Part 9

This is the smallest of the family. Their plumage is entirely dark sooty.

Nest.—They have been found breeding on the islands of Lower California, and they probably do on others farther south. The single egg of this bird is white with a wreath of tiny brown specks about the larger end.

FORK-TAILED PETREL. 105. Oceanodroma furcata. 8 inches.

These birds have a plumage of bluish gray, the wings being darker and the under parts lightest.

Nest.—Single egg is laid at the end of a burrow on the ground. Egg white with a fine wreath of purplish black specks about the larger end. Found breeding on the islands of Alaska.

KAEDING PETREL. 105.2. Oceanodroma kaedingi. 7½ inches.

This bird is similar to the following, but a trifle smaller and the tail less deeply forked. Its range is from northern California to Mexico, breeding in the southern part of its range.

LEACH PETREL. 106. Oceanodroma leucorhoa. 8 inches.

These are quite common on both the eastern and western coasts, breeding from the Farallones northward to the Aleutians. They are of a sooty brown color, upper tail-coverts and side of under-coverts white. They burrow in the ground for two or three feet, but make no attempt at nest building; placing their single white egg on the bare ground at end of burrow. These birds generally take turns in the task of incubation, one remaining at sea during the day and returning at night. They are rarely seen in the vicinity of their nests during the day.

GUADALUPE PETREL. 106.1. Oceanodroma macrodactyla.

Very similar to the preceding, having more of a forked tail and somewhat longer. Breed on the islands of Lower California.

Nest.—Same as above with one white egg, usually much nest stained.

BLACK PETREL. 107. Oceanodroma melania. 7½ inches.

These birds are sooty black all over, lacking the white rump of the two or three preceding. All of the Petrels have a very offensive musky odor, which is always noticeable about an island inhabited by them. The skins and eggs of the birds always retain this odor.

Nest.—Made in burrows similar to the others, but sometimes containing a small amount of nesting material; grass and roots.

Range.—Southern California southward to Mexico.

ASHY PETREL. 108. Oceanodroma homochroa. 7 inches.

This species breeds most abundantly on the Farallone Islands, sooty gray in color, their plumage matching their surroundings so closely that, unless one is looking for them, they will easily be overlooked.

They sit very close when nesting, and will even allow themselves to be removed from the nest by hand, so tame are they. They build in burrows or in any crevice of the rocks, laying their single white egg on the ground or rock without much, if any, lining to the nest.

CORMORANTS—Family Phalacrocoracidæ.

FARALLONE CORMORANT. 120c. Phalacrocorax auritus albociliatus. 30 inches.

Plumage glossy greenish black, with back and wings slaty. These birds breed in large numbers on the Farallones, placing their nests well up on the higher ridges and also in the trees on some of the inland islands, or near large ponds or lakes. They build large nests of sticks and roots, lined with grass, seaweed and moss.

Nest.—Three to five chalky, greenish white eggs are laid (2.40 × 1.50).

BRANDT CORMORANT. 122. Phalacrocorax penicillatus. 35 inches.

Plumage, under parts are same as above. Bill more slender and nearly straight. The young are hatched without feathers or down and the skin is nearly black. The young for two or three months are the food supply for the larger Gulls. Like the other Cormorants breeding on these islands, they stay closely by their nests to protect them from the Gulls that are always on the watch for either the eggs or young.

Range.—Pacific coast, breeding along the whole coast of the United States.

BAIRD CORMORANTS. 123b. Phalacrocorax pelagicus resplendens. 28 inches.

This smaller Cormorant breeds on the Pacific coast from Washington south to Mexico. It is not nearly as common as the former species and not inclined to breed in colonies with the others, but is more secluded.