412 PETREL. 



They are filent in the day, but very clamorous in the night; and 

 are called by the failors, Mother Cary's Chickens, and Witches. 

 They are excellent divers, and appear to ftay under water half an 

 hour without riling. Often give the idea of Swallows, as, like 

 them, they fkim the furface of the water ; at other times appear 

 to run on the top of it .*. Their food fuppofed to be fmallj^; 

 but they will pick up, or at lead examine, every fcrap which falls 

 from the fhips which they follow f. Pretty common to the north : 

 found in Kamtfchatka £. In the Ferro IJles the inhabitants draw 

 a wick through the body, from the mouth to the vent ; which, 

 when lighted, ferves them for fome time, burning like a lamp, 

 being fed by the vaft quantity of oil contained in the body of it, 

 as well as other birds of this genus §. 



It is probable that thefe birds build in the holes of the rocks 

 like many of the genus ; as Mr. Pennant obferved them in Augufi 

 off the end of the IJle of Skie, lurking among the loofe ftones, 

 and betraying themfelves by their twittering noife ||. 



They are alfo met with not unfrequent in the Southern regions. 

 Forfter** faw them in latitude 25 degrees; Dumpier j-f in 31 

 degrees; and OJbeck %% in 34 degrees fouth. 



* Damp. Voy. iii. p. 97. 



f *' Feaft along with other fea-birds : when we threw the guts of pigs over- 

 " board, they generally were the iirft and laft on fuch an occafion." — OJb. Voy. 

 i. p. 113. 



\ Hift. Kamtfchatka, p. 15;. — Thofe found here are larger than have been ob- 

 ferved elfewhere. Arft. Zool. 



^ Bruit. Orn. p. 29. [1 Br. Zool. ** Voy. i. p. 50. IIQ. 



tt ??}'- "'• P- 97' It y°J' u P' n 3' 



SALERNE 



