STORMY PETREL. 439 



breeds off the coast of Brittany and in several localities in the west 

 Mediterranean. . It is found on the coasts of Spain and Portugal^ the 

 Canaries and Madeira^ the west coast of Africa, and round the Cape 

 as far north as the mouth of the Zambesi on the cast coast. The Stormy 

 Petrel has no near ally. On the Galapagos Islands, in the Pacific, a 

 tropical form of the Stormy Petrel occurs, Procellaria tethys, very nearly 

 allied to the Atlantic species, but differing principally in having no dark 

 tips to the upper tail-coverts, and no Avhite tips to the axillaries and under 

 wing-coverts ; the tail is perceptibly forked. 



The Stormy Petrel is the smallest web-footed bird. On the wing, if 

 looked down upon, its black upper parts with conspicuous white rump, its 

 size, and its flight might cause it easily to be mistaken for a House- 

 Martin, were it not that it is never seen on land. It is strictly an oceanic 

 bird, and even during the breeding-season, when it is compelled to come 

 on shore, it only visits its young after dark. Nevertheless it would be a 

 mistake to suppose that the Stormy Petrel is a nocturnal bird. All day it 

 may be seen, generally in small flocks, flitting over the waves in search of 

 food, and following in the wake of ships, where it has learnt by experience 

 to keep a sharp look-out for any floating oily matter that may be thrown 

 overboard. The sailors call these birds " Mother Carey's Chickens,^' and 

 foolishly fancy that because they are black, their presence is an unlucky 

 omen and foretells a storm. This superstition is perhaps all the more 

 devoutly believed in because the Stormy Petrel is almost the only bird 

 that is not frightened away by a storm. Its unrivalled power of flight 

 enables it to follow the undulations of the waves with the greatest ease, 

 and in heavy gales it is supposed that it can even find shelter behind the 

 crests of the billows, skimming along in comparative calm under their lee. 

 It can swim on the surface with the greatest ease, but is almost constantly 

 seen on the wing, as if only resorting to the water when compelled to do 

 so in order to pick up its food. It has a curious habit of hovering over 

 the surface of the waves, and paddling with its feet as if walking on the 

 water, whence its name of Petrel or Little Peter. It probably finds abun- 

 dance of oleaginous matter of various kinds floating on the surface of the 

 waves. Its stomach is always found full of oil, and when caught it 

 disgorges a small quantity of oil. Some naturalists suppose that it feeds 

 on small jelly-fish, and that it has the power of decomposing them in its 

 stomach, and of recombining the elements into oil. The wonders of 

 organic chemistry are no doubt very great, but the amount of oil which 

 finds its way to the surface of the ocean is probably quite sufficient to 

 provide an ample supply for the Petrels which feed upon it. 



The Stormy Petrel is a very silent bird, only at their breeding-grounds 

 are their notes heard, a plaintive weet, sometimes preceded and sometimes 

 followed by a low guttural rattle. Tlie birds arrive at their breeding- 



