258 NATATORES. 



the Gulf of Mexico. This species breeds on low 

 sandy banks, scantily covered with grass, and called 

 Mud Islands, off the southern extremity of Nova 

 Scotia. In the middle of Summer they form bur- 

 rows to the depth of two feet, place at the bottom a 

 few bits of dry grass, and lay only one egg. In two 

 months the young follow their parents to sea, and are 

 scarcely distinguishable from them. 



With its wings nearly at right angles with the 

 body, in calm weather the Petrel runs or rather hops 

 upon the water, patting it with its feet, and keeping 

 its head downward in search of small fishes. Now 

 and then the ear is attracted by its note, resembling 

 the syllables " Kee-re-kee-kee I" which are more fre- 

 quently uttered at night than by day. In every clime 

 the sailor regards with friendly interest this lively 

 and sociable creature. When, flitting over the long 

 ocean swell, they chase one another in play, every 

 one hails them as harbingers of fair weather; but 

 when dull moaning sounds are heard afar, and the 

 little rovers sweep near the vessel, or cluster near its 

 sheltering sides, they give the timely warning to 

 close haul the sails before the tall masts creak and 

 tremble in the gale. 



Having now reached the limit assigned to our 

 volume, we must pass by without notice several other 

 species of water birds found upon our coasts, whose 

 habits are interesting ; but we trust that the perusal 

 of what has been written will have so far instructed 

 and pleased our readers as to stimulate them to a 



