288 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



storms, and so forth, simply because they more frequently see them 

 during bad weather. Their dark plumage tends to confirm the sailor 

 in his superstition. 



When the vessels sent to the whale fishery have passed the 

 Shetland Islands, and entered the northern seas, which are almost 

 always stormy, the Petrels are seen flying about amidst the eddies of 

 foam which are formed by the wake of the ship. They keep in 

 attendance on vessels until something is thrown overboard, for they 

 are extremely voracious, and especially fond of fat. When whalers 

 begin to cut up a whale, the Petrels flock around, to the number of 

 several thousands. They are not afraid to approach so close that 

 they may be knocked down or killed with a blow from a boat-hook. 

 Their plumage is so close that shot fired at them, except at close 

 range, will not penetrate.* 



Petrels walk on land with much difficulty. When fatigued, they 

 sleep on the water with their heads placed under their wings, allowing 

 themselves to be borne about at the mercy of the wind. 



The most remarkable species are — the Stormy Petrel (Procellaria 

 pelagica), well known upon the coasts of Europe; the Capped Petrel 

 (P. hcBsitata), marked with a spot of white on the head ; Wilson's 

 Petrel (P. Wilsonii), without a forked tail, but much resembling the 

 Forked-tailed Petrel (P. Leachii), which has a white spot at the root 

 of the tail; and the Fulmar Petrel (P. glacialis, Fig. 107), which is 

 principally found in the Arctic regions, but is numerous on parts of 

 the north coast of Scotland. 



Under the name of Shear-waters {Piiffinius) those species of 

 Petrels are included which have bills as long, and sometimes longer, 

 than their heads, and their nostrils in two distinct tubes. Among 

 these are the Grey Shear-water {Piiffinius dnereus), which is very 

 common in the Mediterranean, and builds its nest in Corsica ; the 

 English Shear-water {Piiffinius angloruni), which inhabits the northern 

 regions of our hemisphere ; the Brown Shear- water (P. ceqiiinoctialis) 

 which inhabits the Southern Ocean, and is frequently met with at 

 the Cape. 



The Albatross t is the largest and most bulky of all the Birds 

 which fly over the surface of the sea. It belongs principally to the 



* The author is evidently unacquainted with modern fire-arms. We, for ex- 

 periment, last season tried a lock-fast Dougall central-fire gun upon petrels, and 

 found that all that was required to kill them, when within fifty yards, or even 

 more, was to hold it straight. — Ed. 



f Prom the Portuguese word Akatraz, applied by the early navigators of that 

 nation to cormorants and large sea-birds. — Ed. 



