THE STORMY PETREL. 101 



bttt to the end of the claws measaits sometimes more than 

 ■ix feet. The bill is four inches and a quarter long ; as far 

 as the bend black, but from thence to the base, reddish- 

 yellow ; round the base quite to the eye, covered with a 

 flesh-coloured cere. 



The plumage deep scarlet in the adult, except the quills, 

 wnich are black. From the base of the thigh to the claws 

 measures thirty-two inches, of which the feathered part 

 takes up no more than three. 



WILSON'S STORMY PETREL. 



( TTialasidroma WilsoniiJ) 



We commence our series of the FalmipedeSj or Web 

 Footed birds, with this, which is called Wilson's Stormj 

 Petrel, in honour of Alexander Wilson, the celebrated his- 

 torian of American birds. It is on his authority that we 

 give the following description and illustrative anecdotes : — 



The Stormy Petrel, the least of the whole twenty-four 

 species of its tribe enumerated by ornithologists, and the 

 emaliest of all palmated fowls, is found over the whole 

 Atlantic Ocean, from Europe to North America, at aU 

 distances from land, and in all weathers, but is particularly 

 numwrous near vessels, immediately preceding and during a 

 g»l», when flocks of them crowd in her wake, seeming then 



