214 BRITISH ANP EUROPEAN BIRDS. 



The Petrels, (^^) those storm-birds which sailors 



affright, 

 Their oil spouted out with apparent delight. 



white. Seen occasionally in this country; but common in 

 Greenland, where it breeds; eggs two, bluish white, size of a 

 pigeon's. 



(33) Order, Anseres, (Linn.) PETRELtheGiANT, the Stormy, 

 the Broad-billed, the Fulmar, the Shearwater, &c. 



The genus Procellaria, (Linn.) or Petrel, consists of 

 about thirty species ; three, the Pelagicuj or Stormy-Petrel, 

 the Puffinus, or Shearwater, and the Glacialis, or Fulmar, 

 are found in this country. The characteristics of the tribe are, 

 a strait bill bent at the end ; nostrils in one tnbe ; legs naked a 

 little above the knee. Toes three, forward, webbed ; a spur 

 behind instead of a back toe. They live chiefly at sea, and 

 have the faculty of spouting from their bills, to a considerable 

 distance, a large quantity of pure oil. They feed on the fat of 

 dead whales and other fishes. 



The Giguntea, Giant-Petrel, or Mother Gary's Goose, is the 

 largest of the Petrel genus, being in length forty inches, and ex- 

 pands seven feet ; body above pale brown, mottled with dusky 

 white, beneath white. Found at the Isle of Desolation, and other 

 places in higli southern latitudes ; most active in storms or at the 

 approach of them. It visits also, occasionally, the northern 

 hemisphere. Feeds on flesh and fish. Flesh said to be good. 



The PelagicUf Stormy-Petrel, Storm-finch, Little Petrel, 

 Witch, or Mothei'-Cary's-Chicken ; in ^ome provinces called, I 

 believe, Sea-swallow, and, in its general appearance, size, and 

 flight, is not unlike a swallow. It is above black, beneath 

 sooty brown, or dusky ; rump white : another variety having the 

 wing coverts spotted with green ; inhabits most seas ; they are 

 excellent divers, and are said to breed in some of our northern 

 islands. They are seen in vast numbets all over the atlantic 

 ocean, and will follow a ship for many days ; except at breeding 



