268 
SWIMMERS. 
African coast. In winter it wanders south to the Azores and 
Canaries. 
Tlie Stormy Petrel, or Least Petrel, as it was formerly called, is 
the smallest of the web-footed birds, and on the wing has something 
of the appearance of a Barn Swallow. It has completely webbed 
feet, and can swim with ease, but is very seldom seen upon the 
surface of the water, though it has a curious habit of skimming close 
to the surface and paddling the water with its feet, whence is said 
to have originated the name of Petrel, or “ Little Peter.” The bird 
is rarely seen walking on the land, though it can walk with ease 
and is rather graceful ; but the head and body are carried so far 
in advance of the feet as to make the Petrel appear unsteady. 
Like others of this group, the Stormy Petrel does not often appear 
about its nesting site during the day, and those examples that have 
been captured alive have shown so little inclination to display any 
activity before the approach of sunset that the species has been 
considered nocturnal ; but those that are met with on the open 
ocean are busily engaged gleaning food through all hours of the 
day. 
This is a rather silent bird, and its notes are heard only when the 
bird is on or near the nest, Hewitson tells of being guided to the 
nests by the “singing” of the parents, which he describes as 
resembling the chatter of Swallows. 
The name of Mother Carey’s Chicken, thought by some philolo- 
gists to be a corruption of Mater cara, was originally applied 
to this species by seamen, but it is now applied to all the small 
Petrels. 
Sailors fancy that the appearance of these birds is an evil omen 
and foretells a storm, — which is partly true, for they revel in a 
storm and seek it. The Petrels have no dread of winds or waves, 
and find their harvest amid the tumult, fearlessly gleaning their 
food from the curling seas. 
Note. — Examples of several species of Petrel occa.sionally 
wander into our waters from their customary cruising area. These 
are the Black-capped Petrel {AZstrelata hasitatd), from the 
tropics; Peace’s Petrel {^strelata gularis), irom the: Antarc- 
tic ; Bqlwer’s Petrel {Bulnveria bulweri). from the eastern side 
of the Atlantic; White-bellied Petrel {^Cytnodroma grallaria), 
from the tropics ; White-faced Petrel {Pelagodroma inarina'), 
from the Southern Ocean. 
