2 
STORMY PETREL. 
I Lave been enabled on several oceasions, all of which have been entered in my notes, to make observations 
on this species, wlien attracted by the means previously referri'd to. 
May 20tli, 1872. Out to sea in a fishing-lugger off Brighton and Shoreham, in order to procure some 
Stormy Petrels. When about four miles from the land, we put over a quantity of skate’s liver and oil *, and in 
a few minutes the first Petrel appeared upon the scene. "We soon discovered that it was the best plan to throw 
out the liver in large pieces, as the birds are then unable to carry it off, and remain fluttering round while 
endeavouiing to secure a mouthful now and then. Should the pieces he small, they speedily pick up as much 
food as they require and fly off without affording a chance for a shot. It is astonishing in how^ short a time, 
and from vvdiat a distance, they can he decoyed by the fish-liver on the water ; in a little over half an hour I 
had shot eight, and having as many as were needed, we left the rest of the liver for the Gulls and Petrels, and 
proceeded to try the fishing at the wreck of the old lighter off Shoreham harbour. The Gulls, I remarked, 
were much more confiding than they had formerly been, owing, doubtless, to the freedom from persecution 
during the summer. 
In order to protect the liver for the Petrel, I was obliged to shoot eight or ten Lesser Black-hacked Gulls 
that were devouring all the liver as fast as we threw it out, flying almost on hoard our craft and snatching it 
up as soon as it fell on the water. There were very few fish this day about the remains of the wreck, and after 
bringing up for about four hours, we had only taken five score rock-whitings and about half a hundredweight 
of small congers. Several more Petrel came round the boat when the fish to be reserved for our own table 
were cleaned ; rock-whiting lose all their flavour if not attended to immediately after they are captured. 
1879, May 23rd. Out in the Channel off Bidgliton, in a steamboat, to look for Petrel, in hopes of falling 
in with the Forked-tailed Petrel {Thalassidroma leachii ) ; only the smaller species were, however, observed, 
and these came readily to the liver and oil, followed in due course by numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls. 
These undesirable visitors we were forced to clear off, in order to preserve the food thrown out for the objects of 
our search. 
21th. Dense fog in early morning, and very hot and still till the sun broke througb. Again afloat soon 
after daybreak, but only fell in with the same species ; plenty of Petrel, and too many Gulls flying round, 
requiring constant shooting to preserve our supply of fish-liver from being cleared off. 
29th. In the afternoon my sixteen-foot boat, with a crew of two men, was towed out by a steamboat, 
about eight miles from the land, between Brighton and Shoreham, to have another turn at the Petrel. No 
sooner had I descended to our craft and cast off than a dense fog came drifting along from the east, obscuring 
the view beyond the distance of twenty or thirty yards. The captain of the steamboat at once stopped his vessel, 
and hailed us to ascertain if we had a compass, and being informed we were without one, went below and speedily 
returned on deck wuth tbe necessary article. Ilaving promised to steam out for us after dark, did we not turn up 
by that time, he left us to follow our own inclination to remain in tbe small boat, which they all appeared to 
consider rather risky. Some liver and oil were put out on the water as the steamer moved off, and we waited a short 
time, but no Petrel Avere seen ; after about half an hour’s pull we halted again, though the fog w^as so dense 
that nothing beyond tAventy yards could be discerned. Another lot of liver and oil Avas thrown overboard, 
and our rations Avere then served out ; not a bird came in vieAV Avhile Ave consumed our alloAA'ance, and smoking 
had been commenced before AA'e noticed that one of the oars had slipped overboard AAuthout previously attracting 
our attention. As Ave carried a spare set, no attempt Avas made to secure it at the time, but merely to keep it 
in sight ; a feAV minutes later a Petrel Avas discovered settled on the blade, employed in pecking at a piece of 
liAxr Avhicb bad drifted up against the oar. Shortly after, two or three more were hovering round, and Avhen 
ready to moA^e off, a couple Avere obtained Avith the two barrels, the rest speedily taking their departure. During 
* This oil was obtained from the blubber of seals killed in tbe Dornoch Firth, off the east coast of Ross-sbire, cut up into chunks and boiled 
down in a caldron. 
