214 LETTERS OF AN ORNITHOLOGIST. 



By the last post I forwarded a pair of young Petrels, {Thdlasddioma pel- 

 agica;) they wore taken from Soay on the 8th, and were then about a 

 fortnight old, but very little advance 1, being covered with a profusion of 

 down, and their legs and wings quite useless. The old birds were all absent; 

 though we searched every hole, and dug one hole out to ascertain that they 

 were not skulking at the extremity of their burrows, we did not succeed in 

 finding one. The two young captives were placed in a little box, and fed 

 with very small bits of fish, crammed down on the end of a little stick; they 

 took their food in this manner with great reluctance, but I soon discovered 

 that they had a great partiality for cod-liver oil, and would suck a stick 

 dipped in oil very willingly, clattering their beaks and shaking their heads 

 with evident satisfaction. I should conclude from this that the Petrels feed 

 their young with the oil, which they have the power of ejecting from their 

 bills. 



The young birds made very rapid progress, and soon became tired of con- 

 finement, and were only pleased when allowed to walk about upon the table, 

 though they could not rise ofi" their knees. During the last few days that I 

 had them, they became quite fledged, though still retaining a great deal of 

 wool upon their bodies; and they also became exceedingly active and restless, 

 and very much dissatisfied with confinement in the box. Night and day 

 their long powerful wings were in incessant motion in their attempts to escape 

 from the box. As soon as the lid is opened they raise themselves up until 

 they can hook their bills on to the edge; and then, assisted by their wings 

 and scrambling with their claws, they hoist themselves up. When upon the 

 top of the box, they would be satisfied for a little while, shake themselves, 

 and dress their feathers. The instinctive love of motion, however, would soon 

 return, and they go off on a voyage of discovery. 



They walk with great caution, keeping their heads down, and using their 

 bills as walking-sticks, hooking hold of any inequality to assist themselves 

 along, and keeping themselves up, for they have a constant tendency to topple 

 over on their faces: they also are of great service to feel their way, for their 

 sight seemed very imperfect, and their eyes were generally closed. When 

 informed by the bill that they are arrived at the edge of the table, the 

 closed eyes open, and an anxious survey is taken of the depth below; and 

 after considerable preparation and thought, the hazardous leap is taken, and 

 a short flight performed in safety to the floor. These little birds seemed to 

 liave an irresistable instinct which led them to attempt to surmount every 

 •obstacle which fell in their way. When walking on the table every book and 

 desk must be climbed by means of the hooked bill, with the assistance of 

 Kjlaws and pinions. In an angle they would try to shuffle up with their elbows 

 as chimney sweeps used to climb up chimneys; and when upon the floor I 

 iave noticed them striving for a considerable time to ascend the wall of the 

 room. 



On the whole they were very amusing and interesting pets, and I hoped 



