Bird Characteristics Architecturally 99 



BIRD 

 CHARACTERISTIC ARCHITECTURALLY. 



THE Stormy Petrel, also called the Storm-swallow by 

 the Dutch, whose great power of wing enables it 

 to sweep over the ocean at every distance from 

 land, and even to weather the most tempestuous winds, 

 has a great peculiarity. With its webbed feet and light 

 form it can actually walk upon the billows with as much 

 ease as a sparrow can hop along a garden wall. 



" It is indeed an interesting sight," says Wilson, " to 

 observe these little birds, in a gale, coursing over the 

 waves, down the declivities, and up the ascents of the 

 foaming surf that threatens to burst over their heads, 

 sweeping along the hollow troughs of the sea, as in a 

 sheltered valley, and again mounting with the rising 

 billow, and just above its surface, occasionally dropping 

 their feet, which, striking the water, thtow them up again 

 with additional force, sometimes leaping, with both legs 

 parallel, on the surface of the roughest waves for several 

 yards at a time. Meanwhile they continue coursing from 

 side to side of the ship's wake, making excursions far and 

 wide to the right and to the left, now a great way ahead 

 and now shooting astern for several hundred yards, re- 

 turning again to the ship as if she were all the while 

 stationary, though perhaps running at least ten knots an 

 hour. But the most singular peculiarity of this bird is 

 its faculty of standing, and even running, on the surface 

 of the water, which it performs with apparent facility. 

 When any greasy matter is thrown overboard these birds 

 instantly collect around it, facing to windward, with their 

 long wings expanded and their webbed feet patting the 

 water. The lightness of their bodies and the action of the 

 wind on their wings enable them with ease to assume this 

 position. In calm weather they perform the same 

 manoeuvre by keeping their wings just as much in action 

 as to prevent their feet from sinking below the surface." 



