510 BIRDS OF THE WEST" OF SCOTLAND. 



merit until they became fledged. He reared them solely upon 

 cod liver oil, which they sucked from a feather dipped into it, 

 clattering their beaks and shaking their heads with evident satis- 

 faction. Towards nightfall they became exceedingly restless and 

 active; and on being taken out of their box they sat on the table 

 and set their wings in motion so rapidly that they ceased to be 

 discernible. Their eyes being closed during this exercise, the 

 whirring of their wings apparently fanned the little fellows into 

 the notion that they were far out at sea, travelling at the rate of 

 forty miles an hour; and as their bodies became buoyant by the 

 action of the wings, their little feet could retain no hold of the 

 slippery mahogany; so the exhibition generally ended by the poor 

 petrels falling backwards and disappearing suddenly over the edge 

 of the table. Two of these pets died, and were sent to me 

 through the post, accompanied by a note from my friend, inform- 

 ing me that they had both departed this life during the roaring 

 of an equinoctial storm. 



