172 PETREL. 



numbers in the southern regions.* Capt. Cook says, that they were 

 so common in Christmas Island, Kerguelen's Land,f in December, 

 and so tame, that the sailors knocked them down with sticks, on the 

 beach: they are carnivorous, feeding on the dead carcasses of seals, or 

 birds, though their chief food is undoubtedly fish : are called by the 

 sailors Albatrosses, but by the more discerning are well known by 

 the name of Mother Cary's Geese, and thought to be very good 

 food. X These birds are said to spurt out an oily matter from the 

 tubes of the bill, but we apprehend that it can only happen after 

 their feeding on whales, seals, or other such food.§ It may be 

 observed, that the fullness of plumage is more conspicuous in birds 

 of this Genus than in others, nature having suited them to the 

 climate wherein they are to live. 



2. -BRAZILIAN PETREL. 



Procellaria Brasi liana, Ind. Orn.W. 821. Cm.Lin.i. 564. 



Puffinus Brasiliensis, Bris. vi. 138. Id. 8vo. ii. 397. 



Le Puffin du Bresil, Buf. ix. 337. IV. 



Majague, Rail, 133. 5. Will. 252. t. 62. 



Brasilian Maiague of Piso, Will. Engl. 334. III. pi. 62. f. 4. 



Brasilian Petrel, Gen. Syn. vi. 398. 2. 



SIZE of a Goose. Bill hooked ; head round and thick ; neck 

 long; the whole bird dusky, or blackish, except the fore part of the 

 neck, which is yellow. 



* If we do not mistake, this is one of the sorts called Glupisha, mentioned as so frequent 

 in all the Islands between Kamtschatka and America, that they are covered with them — 

 Hist. Kamtsch. 156. f Cook's last Voy. i. 87. % I d - "• 205 - 



§ Birds, supposed to be Albatrosses, were found on more than one part of New-Hol- 

 land, and so plentiful iu one as to give the name of Albatross Island : the colour of the 

 birds more white than black, and in extent of wing from seven to nine feet; the nests not 

 more than one foot and a half apart, and made of muddy earth and grass, in diameter about 

 five or six inches, in height about four inches, with a concavity of nearly that depth; the 

 egg nearly the size of that of a Goose, and dingy white; and it is remarked, that even the 

 young in the nest, on being disturbed, spouted plentiful mouthfuls of a hot, inodorous oil 

 upon the intruders; from this latter circumstance we rather suspect these birds to be the 

 Giant Petrel. 



