THE PETREL. *1S 



The Stormy Petrel, therefore, when it foretels, by 

 its actions, that a storm is approaching, does nothing 

 but what is common to many other birds, and on this 

 account ought to be looked upon by the sailors, as 

 something which contributes to his safety by warning 

 him of his danger, rather than a bird of omen, which 

 has come to do him mischief. 



Stormy Petrels hatch their young in great numbers 

 on the islands of Bermuda, and Cuba, and on the 

 coasts of Florida. They build their nests among the 

 caves and fissures of the rocks, and feed their young 

 only during the night. In the day time, they wander 

 orer the ocean, and such is the rapidity of their flight, 

 that they can be several hundred miles at sea in the 

 middle of the day and home again at evening. 



Mr. Wilson says, " It is an interesting sight to ob- 

 serve these little birds in a gale coursing over the 

 waves, down the declivities, up the ascents of the 

 foaming surf that threatens to burst over their heads ; 

 sweeping along the hollow troughs of the sea, as in a 

 sheltered valley, and again mounting with the rising 

 billow, and just above its surface, occasionally drop- 

 ping its feet, which, striking the water, throws it up 

 again with additional force ; sometimes leaping, with 

 both legs parallel, on the surface of the roughest 

 waves, for several yards at a time." 



But the most singular peculiarity of this bird, is its 

 faculty of standing, or even running on the surface o^ 

 the water with apparent facility. When any greasy 

 matter is hrown overboard, these birds instantly col- 

 lect around it, and facing to windward, with their long 

 wings expanded, and their webbed feet patting the 



