236 Mr. Peabody on the 
has obtained it in Massachusetts bay, and thus au- 
thorized us to claim it as a visiter of the State. So 
far as its habits are ascertained, they are like those 
of other gulls, but its history is very imperfectly 
known. 
The Stormy Perret, Thalassidroma Wilsonii, is 
found on almost all the Atlantic, and known to sea- 
men, who look upon it with very little affection, 
by the name of Mother Carey’s chicken. It fol- 
lows the vessel in its course through the deep, not 
caring whither it goes, and when the tempest rises, 
seems so indifferent to its raging, or rather to enjoy 
it so much, that the superstitious formerly believed 
that this harmless bird had some agency in raising 
the storms. It is called the Petrel, from its walking, 
like the apostle Peter, on the surface of the water, 
where it gathers any food that may be thrown from 
the vessel which it pursues. After it grows dark, it 
rests on the water for the night; but on the follow- 
ing morning, easily overtakes the vessel that has left 
it behind. In general it is rather silent, but at 
times it makes a low sound, as if asking the seaman 
to throw it out some food. It usually subsists on 
resources supplied by its favorite element, the sea. 
The Fonx-rAiLED PETREL, Thalassidroma Leachii, 
was said by Bonaparte, to be uncommon on the Amer- 
ican shores ; but Audubon declares that on the coast 
of Massachusetts, this is much more abundant than 
the other species. On approaching land, when re- 
turning from Europe, he shot a number of those 
