TO ORKNEY AND SHETLAND. 117 



The mighty cables and iron chains, 



The hull, which all earthly strength disdains, 



They strain and they crack, and hearts like stone 



Their natural hard proud strength disown. 



Up and clown, up and down, 



From the base of the wave to the billow's crown, 



And amidst the flashing and feathery foam, 



The Stormy Petrel finds a home ; 



A home, if such a place may be 



For her who lives on the wide wide sea, 



On the craggy ice, in the frozen air, 



And only seeketh her rocky lair 



To warm her young, and to teach them spring 



At once o'er the waves on their stormy wing. 



O'er the deep, o'er the deep, 



"Where the whale, and the shark, and the sword-fish 



sleep, 

 Outflying the blast and the driving rain, 

 The Petrel telleth her tale — in vain ; 

 For the mariner curseth the warning bird, 

 Who bringeth him news of the storm unheard. 

 Ah! thus does the prophet of good or ill 

 Meet hate from the creatures he serveth still, 

 Yet he ne'er falters : so, Petrel, spring 

 Once more o'er the waves on thy stormy wing." 



I have thus given a slight but general view of 

 the birds to be met with in these similar and sister 

 countries ; some few species named in the list I 

 did not obtain^ though I have included them along 

 with the others,, as I have been informed by per- 

 sons of unquestionable veracity that they have 



