256 



AVES. 



the rest ; their nostrils are united to form a tube, which lies along the back of the upper mandible ; 

 and their feet, instead of a hack toe, have merely a claw implanted in the heel. They are, of all the Pal- 

 mipedes, those which remain most constantly at a great distance from land ; and when a tempest comes 

 on, they are often compelled to seek refuge on reefs and ships, from which circumstance they derive their 

 name of Storm-birds: that of Petrel (a diminutive of Peter,) has been applied to them from their habit 

 of walking on the waves, which they do with the assistance of their wings. They nestle in the holes 

 of rocks, [producing but a single egg,] and spurt upon these who disturb them an oily fluid, with 

 which their stomachs appear to he always filled. The greater number of species inhabit the Antarciic 

 seas. [Their stomach is extremely capacious, and but slightly muscular, and they feed principally on 

 oily substances.] 



Those are more particularly called Petrels (Procellaria), the lower mandible of which is truncated. 



The largest species, or Giant Petrel (Proc. gigantea), inhabits the Austral Seas, and exceeds a Goose in size. Its 

 plumage is blackish, but with varieties more or less white. In the same seas is found 



The Spotted Petrel (Pr. capensu).—S'v/.e of a small Duck, and white, spotted with black above. It is often 

 mentioned by navigators [as the Cape Pigeon]. 



The Fulmar Petrel (Pi: glacialis).— White, with ash-coloured mantle, the bill and feet yellow, and size that of 

 a large Duck. It nestles in the precipitous coasts of the [northern] British isles, and is found throughout the 

 whole north. [It has been computed that this species is the most numerous in individuals of the whole class. 

 Though rare in our latitudes, its numbers in the Arctic seas are inconceivable.] 



The Storm-Petrels (Thalassidroma, Vig.) — 

 Are certain small species, with a somewhat shorter bill, rather longer legs, and black plumage, which 



are more particularly designated Storm-birds [and 

 Mother Carey's Chickens'] by mariners. [Their habits 

 are crepuscular and nocturnal, as are also those of 

 most of the tribe : and their flight considerably 

 resembles that of a Swallow.] 



The most common (Proc. pelagica, Brisson) is scarcely 

 larger than a Lark, but stands higher on the legs. It is 

 entirely brown-black, except the croup, which is white, 

 and there is a trace of white on the greater wing coverts. 

 When this bird seeks a shelter upon vessels, it is a sign of 

 an approaching storm. [That of America {Pit. Wilsonii) is 

 distinct, and is sometimes met with on our shores ; as is 



also a third-species with a forked tail, Th. BullocMi. After tempestuous weather, these birds are not unfrequently 



found far inland, generally upon the high road, unable to rise]. 



We separate, with Prisson, by the name of 



The Shearwaters (Piiffiiius), — 

 Those species in which the tip of the lower mandible is curved downwards, like that of the upper, and 

 the nostrils of which, although tubular, do not open by a common orifice, but by two distinct holes. 

 Their beak also is proportionally longer. 



The Cinereous Shearwater (P. einereus; Proc. pnffimts, Gm.)— Ash-coloured above, whitish beneath, with the 

 wings and tail blackish ; the young rather more deeply coloured. Its size is nearly that of a Crow, and it is 

 found almost everywhere, [but rarely so far north as on the British shores]. 



A smaller species was long confounded with it, black above and white below, the Manks Shearwater (P. anglo- 

 rum), which inhabits the northern shores of Scotland and its isles in immense numbers, and which the inhabitants 

 salt for winter provision. [A third (P. obscurus, Vieillot) has occurred in Britain, and there are two or three 

 more, further south.] 



Navigators sometimes mention, under the name of Petrels, certain birds of the Antarctic seas, which 

 should make two particular genera. One is 



The Haladrome (Haladroma, Illiger), — 

 Which, with the beak and form of the Petrels and Shearwaters, has a dilatable throat like the Cormo- 

 rants, and entirely wants the thumb, as in the Albatrosses. 

 Such is Pr. urinatrix, Gmelin. 



The other is 



Fig 127.— Sternum of Stnrm Petrel. 



