STORMY PETRFX. 257 



affinity to this belief. They have been called Witches;* Stormy 

 Petrels; the Devil's Birds; Mother Carey's Chickens J pro- 

 bably from some celebrated ideal hag of that name; and their 

 unexpected and numerous appearance has frequently thrown a 

 momentary damp over the mind of the hardiest seaman. 



It is the business of the naturalist, and the glory of philosophy, 

 to examine into the reality of these things; to dissipate the 

 clouds of error and superstition wherever they begin to darken 

 and bewilder the human understanding; and to illustrate Nature 

 with the radiance of truth. With these objects in view, we shall 

 now proceed, as far as the few facts we possess will permit, in 

 our examination into the history of this celebrated species. 



The Stormy Petrel, the least of the whole twenty-four species 

 of its tribe enumerated by ornithologists, and the smallest of all 

 palmated fowls, is found over the whole Atlantic ocean, from 

 Europe to North America, at all distances from land, and in all 

 weathers; but is particularly numerous near vessels immediately 

 preceding and during a gale, when flocks of them crowd in her 

 wake, seeming then more than usually active in picking up va- 

 rious matters from the surface of the water. This presentiment 

 of a change of weather is not peculiar to the Petrel alone; but 

 is noted in many others, and common to all, even to those long 

 domesticated. The Woodpeckers, the Snow-birds, the Swallows, 

 are all observed to be uncommonly busy before a storm, search- 

 ing for food with great eagerness, as if anxious to provide for 

 the privations of the coming tempest. The common Ducks and 

 the Geese are infallibly noisy and tumultuous before falling 

 weather; and though, with these, the attention of man renders 

 any extra exertions for food at such times unnecessary, yet they 

 wash, oil, dress and arrange their plumage with uncommon 

 diligence and activity. The intelligent and observing farmer 

 remarks, this bustle, and wisely prepares for the issue; but he 



* Arct. Zool. p. 464. 



f This name seems to have been originally given them by captain Carte - 

 ret's sailors, who met with these birds on the coast of Chili. See Hawkes- 

 worth's Voyages, vol. 5, p. 203. 



VOL. III. L 1 



