CLASS II. AVES: ORDER S. NATATORES. 



347 



THE COMMON SKUA. 



Blasipus Heermanni : Franklin's Rosy Gull, Chroicocephalus FranMlmi : the Hooded Gull, C. 

 cucullatus : the North Pacific Kittiwake, Ulssa septentrional is : the Short-billed Kittiwake, 

 R. hrevirostris : the Yellow-billed Gull, R. nivea. : the Short-legged Gull, PagophUa hrachy- 

 tarsi : and the Swallow-tailed Gull, Creagrus furcatus : all found in American waters. 

 There are still many other species. 



THE PETRELS. 



This family includes the Albatrosses, Fulmars, and True Petrels, all of which resemble the 

 Gulls, but spend their lives in skimming over the waves, seeming to take delight in rough 

 weather, whence sailors often regard their presence as the harbinger of storms. 



Genus DIOMEDEA: Diomedea, includes several species. The Common or Wandering Al- 

 batross, D. cxulans, is among the largest of sea-birds, being three feet long, and having twelve 

 to sixteen feet expanse of wing. The plumage is white, except that the head is gray, and there 

 are several transverse black bands on the back. It feeds on fish and other animal substances. 

 So voracious is it, that it is often taken by a baited hook, thrown out from a ship. Its weight is 

 twenty-five to thirty pounds, yet it sustains itself in the air for many hours together. AVhen the 

 flying-fish are driven to take wing by the pursuit of the dolphins, many of them are instantly pur- 

 sued and seized by this swift and greedy bird. So watchful is it for food, that when once a sailor 

 fell overboard near the island of St. Paul's, in the Indian Ocean, several albatrosses immediately 

 attacked him. His hat was found pierced by their bills, and it was supposed that they entered 

 his skull and killed him. This species is very widely distributed, being found in the seas of 

 Southern Africa, Behring's Straits, and other places. It is often met with far out at sea, and the 

 sailors have many superstitions concerning it. The poet has said : 



' How oft, thou wanderer of the stormy deep, 



Is the poor sea-boy wakened from bis dream 

 Of home and home's delights, when, half asleep, 

 High in the shrouds, he hears thy startling scream. 



