464 THALASSIDROMA PELAGICA. 



partially successful attempt to "vvalk on the sea of Gennesaret 

 is recorded in the Gospels. Petrel, then, is the diminutive 

 of Petrus, or Peter. But the Petrels neither walk on the 

 ■water, nor are otherwise than momentarily and in part sup- 

 ported by it. In the open ocean, they arc met with by day 

 as well as by night ; but when breeding, they are seen in the 

 neighboiuhood of their haunts, that is, to the distance of 

 twenty or more miles around, chiefly in the dusk and dawn, 

 and during the day remain concealed in their holes. Stormy 

 weather does not prevent their coming abroad, nor are they 

 less active during calms. When the waves are high and the 

 wind fierce, it is pleasant, even amidst the noise of the storm 

 and the hcavings of the vessel, to watch the little creatures 

 as they advance against the gale, at the height of scarcely a 

 foot above the surface of the water, Avhich they follow in all 

 its undulations, mounting to the top of the wave, there 

 quivering in the blast, and making good their way by repeated 

 strokes of their long narrow wings, then sliding down the 

 slope, resting a moment in the shelter of the advancing mass 

 of water, gliding up its side, and again meeting on the sum- 

 mit the force of the rude wind that curls the wave and scatters 

 abroad its foam-bells. I have seen them thus advancing 

 apparently with little labour, and in such cases less effort, I 

 think, must be required than when they have to encounter 

 a gale before it has bloAvn long enough to raise the Avaves, 

 which afford it partial shelter. Their manner of flying is 

 similar to that of the smaller Gulls, that is, they glide lightly 

 along with expanded Avings, sailing or gliding at intervals, 

 and then plying their feathery oars. It is only when picking 

 up their food that, Avith upraised wings, they hover over the 

 spot, and pat the Avater Avith their feet ; although many per- 

 sons have described this as their ordinary mode of progression. 

 In calm Aveather, Avhen the sea is smooth, they hover, skim, 

 and Avheel around, much in the manner of SAvalloAvs, though 

 with less velocity. They have, in fact, a striking resemblance 

 to these birds, and certainly merit the name of Sea-SwalloAvs 

 at least as much as the Terns. It is only among the Outer 

 Hebrides that I have seen this species, and there but in small 

 numbers, so that my opportunities of observing its habits 



