94 



THE BIRDS OF IONA AND MULL. 



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 confinement, and were only pleased when allowed to walk 



about upon the table, though they could not rise off their knees. 



During the last few days that I had them they became quite 



Hedged, 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 



1 in incessant motion in 



their attempts to 



escape from the 



box. As soon 



