120 ' ZOOLOGY. 



II. Procellaria. Petrel. Bill strong, strait, bending 

 downwards at the tip; nostrils contained in a tube; 

 toes three, webbed ; legs furnished with a spur in lieu 

 of a back toe. 



The species of this genus pass the principal part of tlieir 

 time on wing, being but very rarely seen near shore, except 

 during the breeding season ; they generally frequent cold 

 climates, and feed on the carcasses of whales, and other 

 animals ; thev possess the power of ejecting a quantity of 

 oil from their bills when alarmed. We are informed the in- 

 habitants of the Western Islands procure P. Glacialis, the 

 Fulmar Petrel, and passing wicks of cotton completely 

 through their bodies, use them instead of lamps. All the 

 species are of a very oily nature; and their flesh is rank and 

 offensive in the highest degree. 



12. Mergus. Merganser. Bill slender, depressed, both 

 mandibles serrated on the edges, the point of the upper 

 mandible furnished with a curved nail ; tongue serrated 

 on the sides ; nostrils small, oval, situated near the 

 centre of the bill ; three /ron< toes palmated, the outer 

 one the longest ; the hind toe with a fin-like appendage. 



All this genus are piscivorous ; for the catching and secu- 

 ring their prey, they are furnished with bills toothed on both 

 edges, by means of which they are enabled to secure the 

 most slippery of the finny tribes. They are all of wild, shy, 

 and very retired habits, and their flesh is very bad ; so much 

 so, that we have an old proverb, " he who would regale th* 

 Devilj might serTS him with Merganser and Cormorant.'* 



