116 THE ORNITHOLOGIST'S GUIDE 



Orkney their favourite residence is upon some 

 rocks near Pappa Westra. They build their nests 

 in holes and fissures of the cliffs in situations si- 

 milar to the Puffin. 



Thalassidroma pelagica, Selby. Stormy 



Petrel. Mother Carey's Chicken. — This little bird, 

 the least of the web-footed tribe 3 is numerous in 

 Shetland; it is however local and by no means ge- 

 nerally dispersed, but is attached to particular 

 spots for the purpose of nidification. I found it 

 most plentiful among the small islands lying off 

 Scallaway on the west side of the mainland in 

 Shetland, and in Orkney in the small inlets near 

 St. Margaret's Hope. It makes its nests amongst 

 loose stones, the female laying but one egg \ oc- 

 casionally it builds in rabbit-holes. I have watched 

 this bird for hours together and never saw one 

 dive. It is never seen in fine weather excepting 

 at night. The following beautiful lines of Barry 

 Cornwall will, I doubt not, prove acceptable to the 

 reader. 



" A thousand miles from land are we, 



Tossing about on the roaring sea, 

 From billow to bounding billow cast, 

 Like fleecy snow on the stormy blast ; 

 The sails are scattered abroad like weeds, 

 The strong masts shake like quivering reeds, 



