NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Descriptions. 



THE PETREL. 



THESE birds all frequent the ocean and are 

 seldom to be seen on shore except during the 

 breeding season. Their legs are bare of feathers 

 a little above the knee. They have a singular 

 faculty of spouting from their bills, to a consi- 

 derable distance, a large quantity of pure oil; 

 which they do, by way of defence, into the face 

 of any one that attempts to annoy them. This 

 oil has been frequently used in medicine; and 

 gome writers, say with success. 



The bill is somewhat compressed; the mandi- 

 bles are equal, and the upper one is hooked at 

 the point. The nostrils form a truncated cylin- 

 der, lying over the base of the bill. The feet 

 are webbed; and, in the place of a hind toe, 

 have a spur, or nail, pointing downwards. 



THE STORMY PETREL. 



THE stormy petrel is notyarger than a swal- 

 low ; and its colour is entirely black ; except thg 

 coverts of the tail, the tail itself, and the vent 

 feathers, which are white. Its legs are long and 

 slender. 



It is found in most seas, and frequently at a 

 vast distance from the land, where it braves the 

 utmost fury of the storm., sometimes skimming 





