STORM-PETREL. 245 



[Stercorarius parasiticus — Buffon's Skua.] 

 An occasional visitant on migration. 



Order— TUBINARES. 



Family— PROCELLARIID^. 



Genus— PROCELLARIA. 



PROCELLARIA PELAGICA— Storm-Petrel. 



Up and down ! — up and down ! 

 From the base of the wave to the billow's crown, 

 And amidst the ilashing and feathery foam, 

 The Stormy-Petrel finds a home. 



Barry Cornwall. 



Here ran the Stormy-Petrels on the waves, 



As though they were the shadows of themselves 



Reflected from a loftier flight through space. 



Montgomery — The Pelican Island, 



This smallest of all the web-footed birds has a weird 

 character, and a peculiar interest. From its power of half flying, 

 half paddling along the surface of the rough sea-waves, it gets its 

 name of " Petrel " from the Apostle Peter, who walked upon the 

 water. 



The blackening wave is edged with white ; 



To inch and rock the Sea-mews fly ; 

 The fishers have heard the Water-Sprite 



Whose screams forbode that wreck is nigh. 



Scott— TAe Lay of the Last Minstrel. 



It is supposed to be only seen before stormy weather, when its 

 small size, its quick movements, and its sombre colouring, strike 

 the mariners with awe, and they even call them " Devil's Birds," 

 " Witches," or " Mother Carey's Chickens." 



Modern sailors pay as much respect to auguries as Aristo- 

 phanes tells us those of Greece did two thousand years ago : 



" From birds in sailing men instruction take, 

 Now lie in port, now sail and profit make." 



They have not, however, always the opportunity to heed the 



