OMENS. 193 



observed, that very stormy and rainy weather 

 was approaching. I conclude, that these 

 animals, sensible of a current of air ap- 

 proaching from the ocean, retire to the land 

 to shelter themselves from the storm. 



Orn. — No such thing. The storm is their 

 element ; and the little petrel enjoys the hea- 

 viest gale, because, living on the smaller sea 

 insects, he is sure to find his food in the spray 

 of a heavy wave — and you may see him flit- 

 ting above the edge of the highest surge. I 

 believe, that the reason of this migration of 

 sea gulls, and other sea birds, to the land, is 

 their security of finding food. They may 

 be observed, at this time, feeding greedily 

 on the earth worms and larvae, driven out of 

 the ground by severe floods ; and the fish, on 

 which they prey in fine weather in the sea, 

 leave the surface, when storms prevail, and 

 go deeper. The search after food, as w^e 

 agreed on a former occasion, is the principal 

 cause why animals change their places. The 

 different tribes of the wading birds always 

 migrate when rain is about to take place; 

 and I remember once, in Italy, having been 



