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slight nest on the rocks, is quite white, and of large 

 size, two inches and a half in length, two inches 

 in breadth. It is remarkable that, whatever be 

 the nature of the food of the Fulmer, and other 

 birds of the Petrel species, a quantity of pure oily 

 matter is usually found in the gullet, supposed by 

 many to be the product of some secretion or con- 

 version. Voyagers to the northern seas, however, 

 state that this species greedily devours the blubber 

 of dead whales, and the common opinion is that 

 all the Fulmers and Petrels obtain oily and fatty 

 matters floating on the sea. When seized, they 

 eject by the mouth, and also it is said squirt 

 through the nostrils, this oil, which the people of 

 St. Kilda collect for economical purposes. When 

 first ejected it is of a clear amber colour, but 

 becomes of a deeper tint when kept. 



PETREL, STORM. 



MOTHER GARY'S CHICKEN. 

 THALASSIDROMA PELAGICA, Penn. 



This species, the smallest of the European web- 

 footed birds, is a native of the British islands, 

 breeding in Cornwall, Shetland, the Orkneys, and 

 the Hebrides. It constructs its nest in holes in 

 the rocks, or under stones on the sea beach. The 

 eggs, which are broad, are of a pure white, with- 



