102 PETRELS. 



through preference. They are recognised by the freedom of the 

 thumb, or its entire absence, by their very long wings, and by 

 their beak, which is without teeth, hooked, or simply pointed. 



10, The following table exhibits the characters of the principal 

 genera composing this family. 



(Genera.) 

 nail planted in the heel, 



of a tube. j^ Whhout a vestiffe of a thumb, } ALBATROSS. 



- 

 g J f Legs pretty long ; tail not forked } GULLS. 



5 1 The nostrils 



oblong, and f Beak compressed, 



pierced in \ Legg | of the ordinary form. 

 different j very short ;J 

 places. f tail gener- } Beak like the > 



t ally forked. | blades af a pair of > SKIMMERS. 

 (. scissors. \ 



It. The PETRELS, Proceflaria, have a beak, hooked at the 

 end, the extremity of which seems to consist of a distinct piece, 

 articulated with the remainder ; their nostrils are united in a tube 

 laid on the back of the upper mandible ; in place of a thumb, 

 there is a nail planted in the heel. Of all the palmipedes these 

 remain most constantly at a distance from land ; and when a tem- 

 pest supervenes, they are often forced to seek shelter on reefs and 

 ships, which circumstance has obtained for them the name of 

 Sturm Birds. That of Petrel, (little Peter) is given to them, it is 

 said, from their habit of walking on the water, by the assistance 

 of their wings, which reminds us of the miracle of Saint Peter 

 walking on the Lake of Gennesaret. They build their nest in 

 holes, in rocks, and they eject upon those that attack them an 

 oily fluid with which their stomacb appears to be always filled. 

 The greatest number of species inhabit the seas of the Antarctic 

 pole. 



12. These birds are nocturnal ; they seek their food only in the 

 morning, or evening twilight. During the day they lie concealed 

 in caverns and clefts of rocks. They feed on the bodies. of dead 

 cetacea, mollusca, and worms that float on the surface of the 

 water. 



To this genus belong the Stormy Petrels, or Mother Carey's 

 chickens, I'rocellaria pelayica, Cape Pigeons, &c. 



1C What are tiie principal genera of the family of Longipennes ? 



11. What are the characters of the Petrels? 



12. What are the habits of Petrels 1 / 



