STORMY PETREL. 
3 
our pull towards the land, through the dense fog, we stopped once more and threw over what remained of the 
cod-liver and oil. One or two again came round, hut the drifting fog became so thick, that we could not see 
them at any distance, except too close to fire without damaging their plumage. The sound of traffic in the town 
caught our ears after another pull of half an hour, and the line of beach shortly after becoming visible, it w'as 
necessary to land to ascertain our wdiereabouts. It was satisfactory to learn that w'e were only a quarter of a 
mile to the w’est of the Xew^ Pier, for wdiich I bad attempted to steer. The crew of the steamboat, which w as 
just being got ready to go in searcdi of us, w'ere much surprised to find we had reached our destination so early, 
after an eight miles’ pull in the thick fog. 
In 1880 I w'as again out in the steamboat, on the 13th of May, oft* Brighton, to ascertain if the Petrel w'ere 
now passing along the coast. Starting at 5 p.m. from tlie New Pier, w'e steamed about seven miles south- 
w’est, and then put out the cod-liver and oil, and fifteen or sixteen birds w'ere counted hovering round it during 
the time we remained near at hand. A small boat belonging to the steamer was lowered, as I had unfortunately 
omitted to order the one usually taken out, and it was only Avith considerable difficulty that I Avas enabled to 
shoot, as this dilapidated craft had no bottom boards on Avhich to obtain a footing, and Avas utterly unfitted for 
going afloat. Notwithstanding these draAvbacks, I managed to knock doAvn and obtain fiA'e ; double the number 
might, hoAvever, have been secured with ease had the boat been properly fitted, as the birds Avere but little 
disturbed by the report of the gun, and continued flitting round and pecking at the lAer, and skimming over and 
dipping down to the oil Avithout the slightest signs of alarm. Few Gulls Avere seen on this occasion, though 
several flocks of Common and Arctic Terns passed, and t\A"o or three large bodies of Knots. A young Gannet 
in the second year’s plumage also came and circled round us Avhile Avorkiug aivay tow'ards the east. 
In NoA'emher 1872, I was in the east of Norfolk, and the greater part of the month Avas passed at 
Yarmouth. On the 11th a terrible gale began to bloAV, Avith squalls of rain, from the north-north-east; largo 
bodies of IoaaT Avere flying continually all day toAvards the north, and the immense flocks of Dunlins, passing in 
rapid succession, w’ere such as I had neA’cr Avitnessed before or since. 
On the 12th the gale Avas from the east-north-east ; a foAV fowl w'ere still flying north, but the number of 
Dunlins seen on Aving were not to be compared Avith those observed the previous day. 
Still bloAving with fearful gusts from the east on the 13th ; Avild fowl in small numbers were noAV and 
then detected skimming over the breakers, on their AA'ay toAA^ards the north, but the Dunlins appeared to have 
all passed, not one being observed during the Avhole of the day. There Avere hundreds of Gulls fishing in the 
harbour tide, Avherc it ran into the roads, hut only the usual visitors to the spot Avere observed, with the 
exception of a single immature Glaucous Gull. Three or four Stormy Petrel remained feeding just off the 
harhour-mouth, and occasionally flying a short distance betAveen the piers, where they Avere enabled to find 
shelter from the cutting blasts. 
On the 14th bloAving still harder from the east-north-east, Avith frequent squalls of hail and snoAV. 
Several vessels ashore hetAveen Yarmouth and LoAvestoft, and much Avreckage observed floating in the roads. 
There Avas a large flock of Gulls off the harbour and a fcAV flying up the river; some Kittiw'akes Avere bloAvn 
on to the denes, and several Avere Avith the swarms of Grey Gulls in the roads, evidently much cut up by the 
rough usage they had suffered during the long continuation of the gale. A dozen or so of Stormy Petrel Avere 
flitting here and there between the piers near the harbour-mouth, and a feAV made their Avay up the river as 
far as the AA'harfs Avhere the A'essels and fishing-boats w'ere moored. 
On the 15th there was a slight lull in the morning, and all the common species of Gulls w'ere seen in 
hundreds just off the harbour-mouth during the AAdiole of the day, several Stormy Petrel flying Avith them. 
At daybreak on the 10th the Avind had freshened, and a gale Avas blowing hard from the east-south-east. 
The unfortunate little Petrel proved to he much exhausted by the long continuation of the storms, and w'ere 
even driven right up the harbour, several being seen on Breydon mudflats. Off the denes to the north of 
