Abstract
Summary.: 1. All the available data, largely unpublished, are assembled for sea‐birds breeding in African waters, about 36° N.‐36° S.2. An ill‐defined breeding season by any species at any station is exceptional.3. North of the Equator practically all sea‐birds breed in spring or summer.4. South of the Equator there is much more variation. Round the Cape there is a good deal of mid‐winter breeding, mainly in stations affected by the warm Agulhas current.5. On the east coast most of the breeding takes place in the period June–August from the Gulf of Suez (27° N.) to the mouth of the Zambesi (19° S.) and beyond,i.e.in the hottest months north of the Equator and the coolest months south of it.