. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. 86 BIRDS OF AMERICA rat-hole, and about the middle of June each hole contains a single fragile white egg. As we land there is not a sign of a bird. But sometimes we can smell the peculiar odor like that of the oil they eject, characteristic and persistent and which lasts in mounted specimens for l-'iiMtM Ijy H, K. J"l. LEACH'S PETREL Young and egg removed from burrow Presently we notice the little holes, which run almost horizontally, just below the roots of the grass. A hand inserted up to the elbow lands in a little chamber where the
. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. 86 BIRDS OF AMERICA rat-hole, and about the middle of June each hole contains a single fragile white egg. As we land there is not a sign of a bird. But sometimes we can smell the peculiar odor like that of the oil they eject, characteristic and persistent and which lasts in mounted specimens for l-'iiMtM Ijy H, K. J"l. LEACH'S PETREL Young and egg removed from burrow Presently we notice the little holes, which run almost horizontally, just below the roots of the grass. A hand inserted up to the elbow lands in a little chamber where the brooding bird is now imprisoned. At the beginning of the breed- ing season I have found both male and female in the burrow; later, only one, which may be of either sex, as both sexes incubate. The other partner is supposed to be out at sea, but it is a curious fact that in daytime no Petrels are seen in the vicinity of the islands where they breed. Nor have they been proved to remain in other burrows or hide in holes of the rocks. After dusk the Petrels emerge from their burrows, and there are lively times. Dark forms dart around like bats, twittering, and also uttering a singular little plaintive " song," as it may well be called. Where animals, such as dogs or cats, are kept by fishermen or lighthouse keepers on islands, I have found that they make a regular practice of digging out and eating Petrels, until the colonies are depleted or exterminated. Such practices should be prevented. Later in the summer, investigation of the holes reveals the presence of soft, fuzzy young, covered with thick coats of gray down, lighter in color than the parents. I have found them as late as September without a single feather — perhaps the result of robbery of the nests. Such occur- rences might have given rise to an old super- stition that Petrels hibernate. \\'inter appar- ently drives them at least further south than our bleak north Atlantic coast. Once I tried to make a captur
Size: 1773px × 1410px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorpearsont, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookyear1923
