394 Birds. 



colour is entirely black, except the coverts of the tail, the 

 tail itself, and the vent-feathers, which are white : its legs 

 are slender. Banging over the expanse of the ocean, and 

 frequently at a vast distance from the land, this bird is 

 able to brave the utmost fury of the storms. Even in 

 the most tempestuous weather it is frequently observed 

 by the mariners skimming with almost incredible velo- 

 city along the billows, and sometimes over their summits. 

 They often follow vessels in great flocks, to pick up any- 

 thing that is thrown overboard ; but their appearance is 

 looked upon by the sailors as the sure presage of stormy 

 weather in the course of a few hours. It seems to seek 

 protection from the fury of the wind in the wake of the 

 vessels ; and it is probable that for the same reason it 

 often flies between two surges. The nest of this bird is 

 found in the Orkney Islands, under loose stones, in the 

 months of June and July. It lives chiefly on small 

 fish; and although mute by day, it is veiy clamorous 

 by night. The young of this bird are fed with an oily 

 matter or chyle, which is ejected from the stomachs of 

 the parents. 



Mudie, in his very entertaining work on British Birds, 

 says that they are called Petrels, or "little Petrels," be- 

 cause they move along the surface as if they were literally 

 walking on the water. He also informs us that they are 

 at times very full of oil, and that the Faroese, taking ad- 

 vantage of this circumstance, convert them into lamps, 

 by fixing them in an upright position and drawing a 

 wick through their bodies, which they light at the 

 mouth. 



