tHE STORMY PETREL. 



187 



NORFOLK ISLAND I'FTRFLS. 



over tneir summits. It often follows vessels, in great flocks, to pick 

 lip any thing that is thrown overboard; but its appearance is alwa\3 

 looked upon by the sailors as the sure pres. ge of stoi-rnv wcutlier in 

 the course of a few hours after. It seems to seek for pn>tcctii)n from 

 the fury of the wind in the wake of tlie vessels; and iVotn ihe sair e 

 reason it very probably is, that it often flies along between two 

 surges. 



The nests of these birds are found in the Orkney Islands, under 

 loose stones, in the months of June and July. The Stormy Petrels 

 live chiefly on small fish, and, although mute by day, are very 

 clamorous during the night. 



The inhabitants of the Feroe Islands are said to draw a wick 

 through the bird, which, being lighted at one end, serves for a 

 candle, the flame being fed by the fat and oil of tlie body. 



The other species of Petrel here mentioned are found in great 

 numbers in Norfolk Island, where they burrow in the sand like 

 Kabbits. On Mount Pit, the highest land in the island, the ground 

 was as full of holes as a Rabbit-warren, and an immeni*e number of 

 aquatic birds burrowed and budt their nests in them. These, during 

 the day, were at sea; but as night approached they returned in vast 

 flocks. The settlers lighted small fires every night on this mount, 

 around which the birds dropped as fast as the people could pick 

 them up and kill them; for the wings of many sea-birds are so long 

 as to prevent their rising till they can ascend some small elevation. 

 Hunter says that eighteen thousand birds of diflerent species wer« 

 killed in the space of about six weeks. 



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