STORMY PETREL. 261 



more close and careful inspection, they proved to be a vegetable 

 substance, evidently the seeds of some marine plant, and about 

 as large as mustard seed. The stomach of one contained a fish, 

 half digested, so large that I should have supposed it too bulky 

 for the bird to swallow; another was filled with the tallow which 

 I had thrown overboard ; and all had quantities of the seeds al- 

 ready mentioned, both in their stomaches and gizzards; in the 

 latter were also numerous minute pieces of barnacle shells. On 

 a comparison of the seeds above mentioned with those of the 

 gulf-weed^ so common and abundant in this part of the ocean, 

 they were found to be the same. Thus it appears, that these 

 seeds floating perhaps a little below the surface, and the barna- 

 cles with which ships' bottoms usually abound, being both oc- 

 casionally thrown up to the surface by the action of the vessel 

 through the water, in blowing weather, entice these birds to fol- 

 low in the ship's wake at such times, and not, as some have 

 imagined, merely to seek shelter from the storm, the greatest 

 violence of which they seem to disregard. There is also the 

 greasy dish washings, and other oily substances, thrown over by 

 the cook, on which they feed with avidity; but with great good 

 nature, their manners being so gentle, that I never observed 

 the slightest appearance of quarrelling or dispute among them. 



One circumstance is worthy of being noticed, and shows the 

 vast range they take over the ocean. In firing at these birds, a 

 quill feather was broken in each wing of an individual, and 

 hung fluttering in the wind, which rendered it so conspicuous 

 among the rest, as to be known to all on board. This bird, not- 

 withstanding its inconvenience, continued with us for nearly a 

 week, during which we sailed a distance of more than four hun- 

 dred miles to the north. Flocks continued to follow us until 

 near Sandy Hook. 



The length of time these birds remain on wing is no less sur- 

 prising. As soon as it was light enough in the morning to per- 

 ceive them, they were found roaming about as usual; and I have 

 often sat in the evening, in the boat which was suspended at 



