Forked-tailed Petrel 543 



the road. But happily another labourer passed by, who had a 

 better knowledge of ornithology ; and satisfied in his own mind 

 that a Swift did not possess webbed feet, he picked it up and 

 brought it to Mr. Marsh, doubtless to the ultimate satisfaction 

 of both of them. So nearly, however, was this most rare and 

 most valuable specimen being lost. There were no remarkable 

 gales blowing at that time, but it was observed that it was just 

 previous to a long-continued frost. It may be distinguished 

 from its congeners by the superior length of leg and by the 

 absence of a hind toe ; and Mr. F. Godman, who fell in with this 

 species at the Azores, observed that in flying they carry their 

 legs stretched straight out behind them, and their feet protruded 

 about an inch beyond the tail, producing the effect of two long 

 feathers.* The name of oceanica, ' belonging to the open sea/ 

 is very applicable, for when ships have advanced into the broad 

 Atlantic, hundreds of miles from shore, this little bird has often 

 been seen careering in headlong flight among the great waves, 

 or sheltering itself from the violence of the wind under the lee 

 of the vessel. 



234. FORKED-TAILED PETREL (Thalassidroma Leachii). 



This species is considerably larger than the Common Storm 

 Petrel, which otherwise in general appearance and habits it very 

 much resembles. The forked tail, too, from which it derives its 

 name, at once distinguishes it, and its shorter legs separate it 

 from the species last described. Like the other Petrels, this 

 bird is seldom seen at sea but in tempestuous weather, in which 

 it appears to rejoice; and yet, after severe gales, it is often 

 picked up dead far inland, as if unable to withstand the violence 

 of the wind, and, driven far from its native haunts, perishes 

 miserably of starvation. In the Zoologist for 1866, p. 101, Mr. 

 Henry Blackmore records the occurrence of two specimens of 

 this somewhat rare species near Salisbury, one of which was 

 picked up on the 27th of October, 1859, by a railway porter on 

 the Great Western Railway, two miles from the city, having 

 * Ibis for 1866, p. 104. 



