Page:Condor5(5).djvu/17

x26 THE CONDOR VoL. V the men on the island can locate the petrels in the walls by the characteristic musky odor they give off, but we were not able to do so oumelves, and found the easiest way was to prowl around after dark, when, like the auklets, these diminu- tive Tubinares are chattering and talking to each other, and to mark the places where the sounds came from. In this way we located several but unfortunately were not able to find one on the egg in such a position that we could photograph it, so that we were obliged to return without a photo of this species. These petrels, like others of their kind that nest farther south, are nocturnal in their habits during the breeding season, and seem to exchange places shortly after dark, the incoming birds replacing the mate on the nest after au exchange of courtesies and a chat over the day's happenings. These conversations are carried on in a queer little sing-song twitter, regularly punctuated with a gasp that re- FARALLON[ CORMORANTS AND YOUNG sembles the exhaust of a Lilliputian engine. This twitter is characteristic of all petrels, varying with the species, and has been admirably described by Mr. A. W. Anthony. When flying about in the dim light the petrels resemble bats. Their flight is fluttering and zig-zag and they frequently flit by the head of the watcher clcse enough for him to feel the wind of their wings. Often they run into the glass around the big light, or into the telephone wires that stretch from the light-house to the keepers houses and the siren. and terminate their erratic careers then and there. Small, dainty and velvety, they are the prettiest little birds imaginable, and would be perfect were it not for their habit of vomiting oil over everything when disturbed. We remained on the Farallones nearly three days, returning to San Francisco June 5, ?9o3, and although we had all seen sea-bird colonies before, we were