THE PETREL. 311 



make the bird itself serve as a candle to illuminate their gloomy 

 vigils. This is performed by passing a wick through the body 

 of the bird when just killed. 



These birds appear to love the tempest; they run over the 

 roughest waves, and seem as if they were enjoying themselves 

 as they pass up and down the declivities of the mountains of 

 foam. When the storm is too violent for them, they take refuge 

 upon the nearest rocks, or even on the yards of a passing ship. 

 Sailors, who are confessedly simple and superstitious, take these 

 birds for evil spirits, birds of the devil, harbingers of storms, and 

 so forth, simply because they more frequently see them during a 

 storm. Their black plumage tends to confirm the sailor in his 

 superstition. 



When the vessels sent to the whale fishery have passed the 

 Shetland Islands, and entered the northern seas, which are almost 

 always very rough, the Petrels are seen flying about amidst the 

 eddies of foam which are formed by the movement of the ship. 

 They keep in attendance until something is thrown overboard, 

 for they are extremely voracious, and especially fond of fat, par- 

 ticularly that of the whale. When the fishermen begin to cut 

 up a whale, the Petrels flock together to the number of several 

 thousands. They are not afraid to approach within reach, so that 

 they may be taken or killed with a blow from a boat-hook. 

 Their- plumage is so close, that shot fired at them, except at close 

 range, will not penetrate. 



Petrels walk on land with much difficulty. When they require 

 rest in the open sea, with their heads placed under their wings, 

 they sleep on the water, allowing themselves to be borne about 

 at the mercy of the wind. 



The most remarkable species are the Giant Petrel (Procellaria 

 gigantea), commonly called the Bone-breaker, which inhabits the 

 tract of ocean between Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope ; 

 the Chequered Petrel (P. capensis), commonly called the 

 Chequered Pintado, which is a native of the southern seas ; the 

 Fulmar Petrel (P. glacialis), which inhabits the Arctic seas ; the 

 Stormy Petrel (P. pelagica), commonly called the Storm-bird, 

 which frequents the seas of Europe, and after a hurricane appears 

 on the northern coasts of France ; the Forster or Blue Petrel 



