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.