94 



THE BIRDS OF IONA AND MULL. 



very small bits of fish, crammed down on the end of a little stick ; 

 they took their food in this manner with great reluctance, but I 

 soon discovered that they had a great partiality for cod-liver oil, 

 and would suck a stick dipped in oil very willingly, clattering 

 their beaks and shaking their heads with evident satisfaction. I 

 should conclude from this that the Petrels feed their young with 

 the oil, which they have the power of ejecting from their bills. 



The young birds made very rapid progress, and soon became 

 tired of confinement, and were only pleased when allowed to walk 

 about upon the table, though they could not rise off their knees. 

 During the last few days that I had them they became quite 

 fledged, though still retaining a great deal of wool upon their 

 bodies ; and they also became exceedingly active and restless, and 

 very much dissatisfied with confinement in the 

 box. Mght and day their 



-S ) : 



long powerful wings were 

 in incessant motion in 

 their attempts to 

 escape from the 

 box. As soon 



