212 THE STORMY PETREL. 



remain there some instants, notwithstanding the 

 rapid rolling of the sea. It is observed that they 

 run in these ever-changing furrows of the sea, 

 as larks do in those of the land. Such are the 

 habits of the Petrels, when on the ocean, which 

 may be said to be their home; since it is only 

 during a short season of the year that they visit 

 the land. Of the place of abode which they 

 select for rearing their young, a gentleman, who 

 made an ornithological tour to the Shetland and 

 Orkney Islands in the summer of 1828, has 

 given the following interesting description. It 

 was in the small and rocky island of Foula that 

 he met with the adventure he recounts ; and it 

 is necessary to give you his description of the 

 island, to convey a clear idea of the wild spots 

 the petrel chooses as the earliest home of her 

 young brood, before she leads them out on the 

 waters, to claim their inheritance of wind and 

 wave. 



" Foula," says the traveller, " is a romantic 

 curiosity, being about three miles in circumfer- 

 ence. A range of lofty hills traverses it from 

 south-east 4;o north-west, and the ascent upon 

 the north-east side is extremely steep ; so much 

 so, that to attain the top, it is necessary to catch 

 hold of the dwarf heather at every step. On 

 the other side they gradually slope away to the 



