1.90 PETREL. 



Der Sturmvogel, Bechst. Deuts. ii. 1?C. Schmid, Vog. p. 142. t. 124. 



Storm-zwalluw, Sepp. Vog. t. p. 245. 



Stormfinch, Will. 306. Id. Engl. 395. 



Stormy Petrel, Gen. Syn. Sup. 269. Br. Zool. ii. No. 259, pi. 91. Id.fol. 146 pi. 



L. 5. Id. 1812. ii. 208. pi. 36. Fl. Scot. i. No. 199. Cat. Car. App. pi. 14. 



Edw. pi. 90. upper fig. Bor. Com. 247. pi. 29. Alb. iii. pi. 92. Damp. Voy. iii. 



p. 97. Hasselq. Voy. p. 174. Staunt. Chin. i. 224. Bew. ii. pi. p. 249. Lew. vi. 



pL219. Wale. i. pi. 91. Pult. Dors. p. 19. Orn. Diet. Sf Suppl. Am.Orn.vW. 



90. pi. 60. f. 6. 



SIZE of a Swallow; length six inches, breadth thirteen ; weight 

 at least an ounce. Bill black ; general colour of the plumage black, 

 paler beneath, where it inclines to soot-colour ; the ends of the 

 second quills, the rump, and vent, white ; the four outer tail feathers 

 white at the base on the inner webs ; the wings, when closed, half 

 an inch longer than the tail; legs long and black. Young birds 

 both of this and other Petrels, have a singular appearance, from the 

 immense long and floating down, which occupies the whole under 

 parts from the chin, and supplies the parts with complete warmth, 

 till the true feathers appear. 



This bird is sufficiently common, though rarely met with but at 

 sea, except during the time of its breeding, and seems to be dispersed 

 all over the Atlantic Ocean ; flocks of them are for the most part 

 seen about ships in full sail, but particularly in stormy weather, in 

 the wake of the vessels, to which they seem to resort for shelter, 

 from the violence of the waves; however, the sight of them at any 

 time is not pleasant to the sailors, as they suppose them to forebode 

 bad weather; when following the ships they are silent during the 

 day, but very clamorous in the night, and are called by the sailors 

 Mother Cary's Chickens, and Witches. Are said by some to be 

 excellent divers, appearing to stay under water half an hour without 

 rising to the surface :* they fly wonderfully swift, and like Swallows, 

 they skim the surface of the water ; at other times appear to run on 



* The circumstance of their diving is doubted in the Ornithological Dictionary, for as 

 they are feathered like a Gull, added to their form and levity, they should thereby be not 

 capable of immersion. 



