THE STORMY PETREL. 315 



Manners Noise Several species. 



with incredible velocity along the hollows of the 

 waves, and sometimes over their summits. It is 

 also an excellent diver, and often follows vessels 

 in great flocks, to pick up any thing that is 

 thrown overboard ; but its appearance is always 

 looked upon by the sailors as the sure presage of 

 stormy weather in the course of a few hours. It 

 seems to seek for protection from the fury of the 

 wind, in the wake of the vessels : and for the 

 same reason it very probably is, that it often 

 flies along between two surges. 



The nests of these birds are found in the Ork- 

 ney Islands, under loose stones, in the months of 

 June and July. They live chiefly on small fish; 

 and although mute by day, are very clamorous 

 during the night. 



These birds are called by the sailors Mother 

 Carey's chickens ; but why they have given 

 them this appellation we are at a loss to explain. 

 They are found in many parts of the world ; and, 

 in the Feroe islands, the inhabitants are said to 

 draw a wick through the body of the bird, from 

 the mouth to the vent, which being lighted at 

 one end serves them as a candle, as it is fed by 

 tbe vast proportion of oil which this little animal 

 contains. 



There are about twenty species of foreign birds 



of this kind. In the high southern latitudes one 



is found, which is the size of a goose, and on 



that account is called the giant petrel. The 



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