264 SWIMMERS. 



odor. The air at the nesting site is strongly impregnated with this 

 odor, and it guides a searcher to the nest. 



Petrels appear very helpless on the land, walking or rising on 

 the wing with difficulty ; but in the air they are as graceful as swal- 

 lows, and fly with equal skill. A storm is their delight, and the 

 trough between white-capped waves a favorite feeding place. The 

 birds skim close to the water, and continually dip their feet into it 

 as they fly. 



WILSON'S PETREL. 



OCEANITES OCEANICUS. 



Char. General plumage sooty black, darker on wings and tail ; tail- 

 coverts white; tail square; bill and legs black; webs of the feet yellow 

 at their bases. Length about 7^ inches. 



Nest. In crevices of rocks or amid loose fragments. 



^^g^- I ; white, marked chiefly around the larger end with fine spots 

 of purplish red; average size about 1.30 X 0.90. 



This ominous harbinger of the deep is seen nearly through- 

 out the u^hole expanse of the Atlantic, from Newfoundland to 

 the tropical parts of America, whence it wanders even to 

 Africa and the coasts of Spain. From the ignorance and 

 superstition of mariners, an unfavorable prejudice has long 

 been entertained against these adventurous and harmless wan- 

 derers ; and as sinister messengers of the storm, in which they 

 are often involved with the vessel they follow, they have been 

 very unjustly stigmatized by the name of Stormy Petrels, 

 Devil's Birds, and Mother Carey's Chickens. At nearly all 

 seasons of the year these Swallow- Petrels in small flocks are 

 seen wandering almost alone over the wide waste of the 

 ocean. 



On the edge of soundings, as the vessel loses sight of the 

 distant headland and launches into the depths of the un- 

 bounded and fearful abyss of waters, flocks of these dark, swift- 

 flying, and ominous birds begin to shoot around the vessel, and 

 finally take their station in her foaming wake. In this situa- 

 tion, as humble dependants, they follow for their pittance of 

 fare, constantly and keenly watching the agitated surge for 



