CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 8. NATATORES. 
347 
THE COMMON SKUA. 
Blasipus Heermanni : Franklin's Rosy Gull, Chroicocephalus FranJcUnii : the Hooded Gull, (7. 
cucullatus : the North Pacific Kittiwake, Rissa septentrionalis : the Short-billed Kittiwakb, 
JR. hrevirostris : the Yellow-billed Gull, S,. nivea : the Short-legged Gull, Pagophila hracliy- 
tarsi : and the Swallow-tailed Gull, Creagrus furcatus : all found in American waters. 
There are still many other species. 
THE PETRELS. 
This family includes the Albatrosses, Fulmars, and True Petrels, all of whicTi resemble the 
Gulls, but spend their lives in skimming over the waves, seeming to take delight in rough 
weather, whence sailors often regard their presence as the harbinger of storms. 
Genus DIOMEDEA : Diomedea, includes several species. The Common or Wandering Al- 
batross, D. exulans, is among the largest of sea-birds, being three feet long, and having twelve 
to sixteen feet expanse of wing. The plumage is white, except that the head is gray, and there 
are several transverse black bands on the back. It feeds on fish and other animal substances. 
So voracious is it, that it is often taken by a baited hook, thrown out from a ship. Its weight is 
twenty-five to thirty pounds, yet it sustains itself in the air for many hours together. When the 
flying-fish are driven to take wing by the pursuit of the dolphins, many of them are instantly pur- 
sued and seized by this swift and greedy bird. So watchful is it for food, that when once a sailor 
fell overboard near the island of St. Paul's, in the Indian Ocean, several albatrosses immediately 
attacked him. His hat was found pierced by their bills, and it was supposed that they entered 
his skull and killed him. This species is very widely distributed, being found in the seas of 
Southern Africa, Behring's Straits, and other places. It is often met with far out at sea, and the 
sailors have many superstitions concerning it. The poet has said : 
" How oft, thou wanderer of the stormy deep, 
Is the poor sea-boy wakened from his dream 
Of home and home's delights, when, half asleep, 
High in the shrouds, he hears thy startling scream. 
