34 WATER-BIRDS IN THEIR HOMES. 



on it were birds and field-mice ; and chief among the birds 

 were the Leach's petrel, which fifty years ago was found 

 on all our outer islands. 



The Scotch have a pretty way of speaking of fairies as 

 " the good people " or " the little people," to win their good- 

 will; and when we recollect the superstitious respect all 

 seafaring folk have for the petrels, or " Mother Carey's 

 chickens," it seems quite fitting to give them the same title. 

 That there are to-day few petrels breeding where there used 

 to be hundreds is due to city gunners and scientists ; for even 

 a few years ago not a fisherman or island gunner anywhere 

 along the coast could be induced to kill a petrel lest ill-luck 

 should follow. 



These "little people" are small and dark-colored and flit 

 about toward evening like little shadows, coming from and 

 going to their nesting-place. Dusk and dawn are their hours 

 of greatest activity, though all day long one of the pair will 

 be out at sea feeding, while its mate is at home on the nest. 

 It is the custom of the petrels to lay their eggs in under- 

 ground burrows about two feet in depth. In. this dark 

 chamber, when there are eggs to be hatched, one bird sits 

 all day long sleeping and brooding ; and at evening, welcom- 

 ing her mate with a harsh-sounding but loving greeting, she 

 changes places and goes out to seek her own food. 



Apparently the petrels see better in the twilight than in 

 broad day, as one might imagine from their large full eyes, 

 which have a near-sighted look, and a pupil so large that the 

 eye appears to be black, though the iris really is brown. 



There is something wonderfully soft and dove-like about 

 the petrels. Their plumage, though dark colored and greasy, 

 is as full and deep as a gull's. Their manners are gentle and 

 winning, and they do not resent being handled, but look at 



