Order TUBINARES. 



Family PROCELLARIID^E. 



THE STORM-PETREL. 



Procellaria pelagica, Linnaeus. 

 Plate 79. 



The Storm-Petrel, our smallest web-footed bird, breeds on many of the Scottish 

 islands, including the Orkneys and Shetlands, the Hebrides, and various rocky 

 islets on the western coast, while southwards it is found in similar situations off 

 the coast of Wales, the Isles of Scilly, and also in Ireland. 



In Europe it breeds from as far north as the Lofoten Islands in Norway, south 

 to the Mediterranean, and, after nesting, spends the time at sea, when it roves as 

 far as Cape Colony in Africa and westward to America. 



The one egg, which is white, dotted with reddish spots, is laid in a hole in a 

 cliff, at the end of a tunnel on some grassy slope, or under stones, where occasion- 

 ally a scanty nest is formed of bents and bits of earth. 



The Petrels seek their food upon the waters, skimming just above the waves, 

 usually following their curves, while skilfully avoiding the breakers, and often 

 touching the surface with their feet outspread. This habit has presented to the 

 minds of sailors the experience of the Apostle Peter, and hence the name of 

 Petrel. 



Known also as Mother Carey's Chickens, they frequently accompany ships on 

 their voyage across the ocean, following in their wake for many miles, no doubt 

 attracted by the various oily substances and other animal matter which may be 

 thrown overboard. They also eat small crustaceans and fishes. The presence of 

 these little birds as they glide around a vessel is supposed by seamen to foretell the 

 approach of stormy weather. 



Macgillivray, describing them as seen in the waters around the Hebrides, says : 

 "In the open ocean, they are met with by day as well as by night ; but when 

 breeding, they are seen in the neighbourhood of their haunts, that is, to the distance 

 of twenty or more miles around, chiefly in the dusk and dawn, and during the day 



iv. 89 m 



