286 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



the St. 'Kilda group ; also in Mingula and Barray a few pairs 

 in holes and cracks in the peat, and on several other islands 

 of the west of Scotland. 



STOEM PETREL. 



Procellaria pelagica. 



This Petrel is found in large numbers in the Channel^ gener- 

 ally far out at sea. In my own notes I find that one was 

 picked up in the churchyard of Hailsham^ having heen blown 

 against the spire during the gale of February 26, 1848. Four 

 specimens of this species were shot about half a mile off 

 Brighton, on November 5th, 1845, which were preserved by 

 Mr. Pratt. In the Isle of Burhou, off Aldemeyi, about the 

 year 1836, I found this bird in deserted rabbit-burrows, and 

 took the eggs. I did not see the nests. In each case the 

 bird allowed me to take it out, and voided a quantity of oil 

 and some green substance. I did not see any of the birds on 

 the wing. It is said to breed on the Scilly Isles, and on 

 many of those of Scotland, as far north as the Orkneys and 

 Shetlands. 



Mr. Booth says that they are extremely numerous in the 

 spring, and may be occasionally met with in the autumn; 

 adding that in the former season, when they are gathering in 

 the Channel, and on the whole of our coast line, before they 

 make a move to their northern breeding-stations, they are 

 to be found almost every day that an attempt is made to 

 ascertain their whereabouts. Mr. Booth suggests that the 

 name '' Mother Carey^s Chicken" is a corruption of " Madre 

 cara," addressed by pious seamen to the Virgin, when 

 beseeching her to avert a storm. 



