NATATORES. 43 J 



to that of Mexico. According to Mr. Darwin, it is common to Cape 

 Horn and the coast of Peru, as well as Europe. The flight of 

 these Wanderers of the ocean is very rapid and long protracted. 

 In calm weather they are fond of alighting on the water, in com- 

 pany with the Fulmars, and when at play among themselves, 

 swim with great buoyancy and have a graceful appearance. 



The PUFFIN, or SHEARWATER, P. anglorum, is a species that 

 once largely inhabited a small islet near the southern part of the 

 Isle of Man, but has of late deserted it. It is now abundant on 

 the coast of South Wales. It has been found in the vicinity of 

 Newfoundland. In the Orkney Islands it is called the LYRE, 

 and is much valued, both on account of its serving as food, and 

 for its feathers. This bird is described as standing nearly erect 

 and flying with great rapidity. " It feeds on marine animal sub- 

 stances of all kinds, and when taken squirts out an oily fluid from 

 its nostrils, in the manner of the Petrels." It breeds in burrows, 

 laying one egg, which is white and about as large as that of the 

 domestic fowl. The upper parts of the body are of a lustrous 

 black ; the under parts pure white ; the sides of the neck speck- 

 led with black and white ; length thirteen inches. 



The LITTLE SHEARWATER, P. obscurus, is of a brown color 

 above ; beneath, white ; in length, ten or eleven inches. It is 

 common to Europe and America; ranges northwardly from the 

 coast of Mexico to that of New York. 



The genus Thalassidroma, (Gr. Thalassa, the sea ; dromos, 

 a race,) including the smallest of the web- footed birds, has been 

 separated from the rest of the Petrel group. They are of noc- 

 turnal or crepuscular habits, and seldom seen except in lowering 

 or stormy weather, when they frequently follow in the track of 

 ships. At other times and during clear weather, they are con- 

 cealed in the holes of rocks and in burrows, and only come forth 

 at night in search of food. Their flight equals in swiftness that 

 of the Swallow tribe, which they resemble in size, color, and 

 general appearance. They breed in the crevices of rocks or in 

 burrows, like the rest of the family, laying but one egg, which 

 is white and comparatively large. 



The STORMY or LEAST PETREL, T. pelagica, (belonging to the 

 sea,) or P. pelagica, is known to sailors under the name of 

 Mother Carey's Chicken, and by them regarded as the precursor 

 of a storm. This is the smallest of the Web-footed Birds, being 

 only about six inches long. In the length of its wings and 

 its swift flight, it is like the Chimney Swallow ; in its plumage it 

 is black with purple reflections, except the rump and a portion 

 of the tail, which are white. It is met with on every part of 



