426 LARID^. 



observed sporting in company, after the manner of these birds ; 

 on the 25th, when about one hundred and twenty miles east of 

 Etna, and sixty from Calabria, a few of them were remarked for 

 some time a little astern of the ship : their dipping in the water is 

 like that of the swallow, but continues rather longer, perhaps that 

 they may skim the surface for food. — 27th. Sixty miles west of the 

 Morea, I saw one with a very large patch of white above the tail 

 skimming the surface of the sea. The wind was very moderate, 

 and from various points ; the weather fine when all these birds 

 were seen. 



A gentleman of my acquaintance states that during a voyage 

 from Liverpool to Canada, when storm petrels (species ?) could 

 not be seen from the vessel, the sailors would bring them to view 

 by throwing overboard greasy matter which they call slush. Mr. 

 Hewitson, too, in giving a very interesting account of this bird 

 as observed at the Shetland Islands, remarks, that the fishermen 

 there, " though they have not previously seen one, are sure to be 

 surrounded by them upon tlu:owing pieces of fish overboard." 

 He states also, as has been said of those in their Irish breeding- 

 stations, that they are easily captured on their nests. 



Audubon, in the following note, mentions different species of 

 storm petrel congregating together : — " In August 1830, being 

 becalmed on the banks of Newfoundland, I obtained several in- 

 dividuals of tliis species \1\ pelagic(i\ from a flock composed 

 chiefly of T. LeacJiii and T. Wilsonii," vol. iv. p. 310. Wilson 

 is very eloquent on what he believed to be the T. pelagica, and 

 gives from personal observation on the coast of the United 

 States an admirable account of it : liis bird, however, is a different 

 species, and in honour to him has been named T. Wilsoni by the 

 Prince of Canino. Wilson remarks, that when passing along the 

 shores of Florida and the Carolinas, these birds made their ap- 

 pearance in all weathers.* 



* Jardine's edit. Wils. Amer. Orn. vol. ii. p. 385. 



