The Stormy Petrel 



393 



our coasts ; gliding with beautiful ease and swiftness 

 through the air, skimming the surface of the water in 

 pursuit of their prey, or reposing upon its bosom. 

 Even their rather harsh and discordant cry is in har- 

 mony with the wild and imposing heights on which 

 they love to dwell. This, however, does not protect 

 them from the frequenters of our seaside towns, with 

 whom seagull shooting is a favourite amusement ; an 

 amusement the more to be reprehended as the flesh of 

 the bird is quite useless. 



Gulls are frequently caught alive, and, after having 

 their wings clipped to prevent their escape, are kept to 

 satisfy their voracious appetite on snails, slugs, and 

 other garden pests. 





THE STORMY PETEEL, OE MOTHEE CAEY'S 

 CHICKEN. ( Thalassidroma pelagica. ) 



" O'er the deep ! o'er the deep ! 



Where the whale, and the shark, and the sword-fish sleep, 

 Outflying the blast and the driving rain, 

 The petrel telleth her tale in vain ; 

 For the mariner curseth the warning bird, 

 Who bringeth him news of the storm unheard ! 

 Oh ! thus does the prophet, of good or ill, 

 Meet hate from creatures he serveth still ; 

 Yet he ne'er falters : So, Petrel ! spring ^ 

 Once more o'er the waves on thy stormy wing." PROCTER. 



THE STORMY PETREL is not larger than a swallow ; and its 



