STORMY PETREL; ALBATROSS. 517 



the higher latitudes of both hemispheres, and are almost con- 

 stantly seen on the wing, only alighting on the ocean to take a 

 short repose, and rarely coming to land except during the breed- 

 season. They feed upon fish, mollusks, and floating garbage ; 

 and many species are in the habit of following ships in their 

 course, to partake of the refuse which is thrown overboard. The 

 larger ones will attack other Marine Birds, compelling them to 

 give up their prey, or even destroying and devouring them. 

 The Stormy Petrels* commonly known by sailors as Mother 

 Careys Chickens -, are the smallest of all the web-footed Birds, 

 and are distributed over every part of the ocean. They seem 

 quite at their ease amidst the most violent storms, coursing over 

 the roughest waves, and mounting through the breaking surge 

 that threatens to overwhelm them. Hence they are so associated 

 in the minds of seamen with the idea of tempest, that their 

 appearance is regarded as the sure forerunner of a storm. To 

 this group also belongs the gigantic Albatross ; which is one of 

 the largest of all aquatic Birds, its spread of wing being some- 



FIG. 299. ALBATROSS. 



times fourteen feet, and its weight twenty pounds. This Bird 

 is an inhabitant of the southern seas, where it is often seen by 

 the voyager sailing with outspread wings around his vessel, or 



