802 Ornithology of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. 
night upon an island frequented by these birds and listen to 
their incessant cries, unknowing whence they proceed, with- 
out having his unbelief somewhat shaken for the moment. 
The Petrel rises with great difficulty from the ground and 
only very obliquely. Though it can fly with great rapidity 
horizontally or in an oblique direction, its wings are not 
adapted to an upward flight. It can, therefore, be easily 
caught by an active dog, when driven from its retreat, before 
it can rise beyond his reach. When taken alive: it ejects 
from its throat a yellow, offensively fetid, oily fluid, which 
seems to be its principal means of defence. It will also bite 
furiously, though the weakness of its slender bill renders its 
bite harmless. Except the permanently offensive odor it 
leaves behind it, I am not aware that the fluid it ejects upon 
its assailants has any power to harm. The fishermen believe 
it to be poisonous, blinding to the eyes, and even fatal in 
certain cases, and under peculiar circumstances. I am confi- 
dent this is not the. case, as I have seen it thrown full upon 
the face with no other effect than. a slight momentary burn- 
ing sensation, soon removed by a free use of sea-water. 
HERRING GULL (Larus argentatus Brün.) 
Mr. Audubon, in his history of this bird, gives an interest- 
ing account of his visit to White-Head Island, and there 
finding this bird breeding in trees. He had been informed, 
previous to this visit, of what he would there see, but had 
anticipated finding some mistake on the part of his inform- 
ants. That large, clumsy, webfooted birds, like the Herring 
Gull, could be induced by any pressure of circumstances, $9 
far to depart from their natural habits and those of their whole 
family, as to construct for themselves nests in high trees in the 
manner of land birds, appeared almost an impossibility. The 
result verified, however, the correctness of his information. 
He found the Gulls in large numbers, with well-constructed 
nests in high trees. He was informed by the proprietor of 
