310 THE 



foundland, Iceland, and the Feroe Islands ; the Common Skua 

 (Lestris cataractes), commonly called the Brown Stoeland. 



The PETRELS (Procellaria, Linn.) are characterised by a gibbous 

 beak, the extremity of which is hooked, and seems made all in 

 one piece, and as if jointed on to the rest of the upper mandible. 

 These birds never dive, and rarely swim ; but in their rapid flight 

 they skim over the waves, and actually appear to walk upon the 

 waters. To this habit they owe the name of Petrel, which simply 

 means " Little Peter," in allusion to the miracle of St. Peter, who 

 walked upon the restless waters of the Lake of Genesareth. 



The family of the Petrels contains several species of very dif- 

 ferent appearance. They traverse immense distances in their 

 powerful and rapid flight, although they nearly always keep close 

 to the water. They never draw near to the coast except to build 

 their nests, for which purpose they select a little crevice in some 

 steep rock, in which they deposit a large white egg. While sitting 

 upon it, they keep up a low and continual noise, like that of a 

 spinning-wheel. 



In general, Petrels are not of a very engaging aspect ; but they 

 are an invaluable resource to the poor people who inhabit the 



Fig. 112. The Blue Petrel (Procellaria c&rulea, Gmelin). 



islands in the frigid seas, who do not object to eat the flesh of 

 these birds, although they principally value them for their warm 

 down and the oil which can be extracted from their stomachs. 

 The quantity of oil which these birds contain is so large that it is 

 used as an article of diet. In the Feroe Islands candles are 

 made from this oleaginous matter. Often, indeed, the islanders 



