626 BIEDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



STORM PETREL, Thalassidroma pelagica. This 

 little Petrel, the last on rny list, as well as on that of 

 British hirds, is not only the smallest of the Petrels, 

 but the smallest of all the British web-footed birds. 

 I add it to my list on the authority of Montagu, who 

 says that a specimen was killed in the neighbour- 

 hood of Bath,* for, like the Forktailed Petrel, this 

 little ocean wanderer is occasionally driven inland, 

 especially in the autumn. 



The Storm Petrel, or " Mother Carey's Chicken," 

 as it is called by the sailors, is regarded with a good 

 deal of awe by them as being the sure forerunner of 

 stormy weather. Montagu says that during a voyage 

 to America he noticed two or three small congrega- 

 tions of these birds, and they followed the ship for 

 several hours, flying round and playing about, in the 

 manner of Swallows, frequently stooping to pick up 

 bits of biscuit thrown over for them. Fortunately, 

 however, he adds, " we looked in vain for the accom- 

 panying tempest, which these bewitched chickens of 

 Mother Carey were supposed to forebode." 



The food of this bird is much the same as that of 

 the Forktailed Petrel, namely, small fish, Mollusca 

 and Crustacea, to be found in floating masses of sea- 

 weed, and it also accompanies vessels to look out 

 for any edible matter that may be thrown over- 

 board. 



* Montagu's Dictionary, by Newman. 



