I 



STORMY PETREL. 91 



Carey^s Chichem^ probably from some celebrated ideal hag of 

 that name ; and their unexpected and numerous appearance has 

 frequently thrown a momentary damp over the mind of the 

 hardiest seaman. 



It is the business of the naturalist, and the glory of philoso- 

 phy, to examine into the reality of these things; to dissipate the 

 clouds of error and superstition wherever they begin to darken 

 and bewilder the human understanding; and to illustrate Nature 

 with the radiance of truth. With these objects in view, we shall 

 now proceed, as far as the few facts we possess will permit, in oin- 

 examination into the history of this celebrated species. 



The Stormy Petrel^ the least of the whole twenty-four species 

 of its tribe enumerated by ornithologists, and the smallest of all 

 palmated fowls, is found over the whole Atlantic ocean, from Eu- 

 rope to North America, at all distances from land, and in all wea- 

 thers ; but is particularly numerous near vessels immediately pre* 

 ceding and during a gale, when flocks of them crowd in her wake, 

 seeming then more than usually active in picking up various mat- 

 ters from the surface of the water. This presentiment of a change 

 of weather is not peculiar to the Petrel alone; but is noted in many 

 others, and common to all, even to those long domesticated. The 

 Woodpeckers, the Snow-birds, the Swallows, are all observed to 

 be uncommonly busy before a storm, searching for food with great 

 eagerness, as if anxious to provide for the privations of the coming 

 tempest. The common Ducks and the Geese are infallibly noisy 

 and tumultuous before falling weather; and tho, with these, the at- 

 tention of man renders any extra exertions for food at such times 

 unnecessary, yet they wash, oil, dress and arrange their plumage 

 with uncommon diligence and activity. The intelligent and ob- 

 serving farmer remarks this bustle, and wisely prepares for the is- 



* This name seems to have heen originally given them by captain Carteret's sailors, who met 

 with these birds on the coast of Chili. See Hawkesworth's Voyages, vol. i, p. 20,1>. 



