THE PETREL FAMILY. 2%J 



they lay from two to four eggs, which are sat upon by the male and 

 female alternately. They are courageous enough to defend their 

 young brood against any kind of animal, and even against man. 



There are four European species : the Parasite Skua (Stercorarius 

 parasiticus), which inhabits Greenland, Newfoundland, and Spitz- 

 bergen, and visits tolerably often our Atlantic coasts ; Buffon's Skua 

 (S. cepphus, Fig. 106), which is very plentiful in Sweden, Norway, 

 Lapland, and North America, remarkable for some elongated fea- 

 thers in the centre of tail ; the Pomerine Skua (S. pomarimis), which 

 is very common in Newfoundland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands ; 

 the Common Skua (S. catarr hades), commonly called the Brown 

 Stoeland. 



The Petrels (Froceliaria) are characterised by a gibbous beak, the 

 extremity of which is hooked, and seems jointed on to the rest of the 

 upper mandible. These birds never dive, rarely swim, except at 

 night, when they sleep on the waters ; but in their rapid flight they 

 skim over the waves, and actually appear to walk upon them. To 

 this habit they owe the name of Petrel, which simply means " little 

 Peter," in allusion to the miracle of St. Peter, who walked upon the 

 restless waters of the Lake of Genesareth. 



The family of the Petrels contains several species of very different 

 appearance. They traverse immense distances in their powerful and 

 rapid flight, although it is rarely elevated above a few feet over the 

 surface. They seldom approach the coast except to build their 

 nests, for which purpose they select a little crevice in some steep 

 rock, in which they deposit a large white egg. While sitting upon it, 

 they keep up. a low and continual noise, like that of a spinning-wheel. 



Petrels are of a very engaging aspect, and of great importance to 

 the poor people who inhabit the islands in the frigid seas, who are 

 glad to use them as food, although they principally value them for 

 their warm down and the oil which can be extracted from their 

 bodies. The quantity of oil which these birds contain is so large 

 that it is used as an article of diet. In the Faroe Islands candles 

 are made from this oleaginous matter. Often, indeed, the islanders 

 make the bird itself serve as a candle to illuminate their gloomy 

 vigils. This is performed by passing a wick through the Petrel's 

 body when just killed. 



These birds appear to glory in tempestuous weather. They glide 

 over the roughest waves, and seem as if they were enjoying them- 

 selves as they pass up and down the declivities of the mountains of 

 foam. Sailors, who are confessedly simple and superstitious, take 

 these birds for evil spirits, emissaries of the devil, harbingers of 



