96 
AMERICAN STORMY PETREL. 
titiTiosplicrc before it hcis become sensible to bis giossei feelings ^ 
and thus, in a certain degree, contribute to his security. And why 
should not those who navigate the ocean contemplate the appear- 
ance of this unoffending little bird in like manner, instead of eye- 
ing it with hatred and execration ? As well might they curse the 
midnight light-house, that, star-like, guides them on their watery 
way, or the buoy, that warns them of the sunken rocks below, as 
this harmless wanderer, whose manner informs them of the ap- 
proach of the storm, and thereby enables them to prepare for it. 
The Stormy Petrels breed in great numbers on the rocky 
shores of the Bahama and the Bermuda islands, and in some 
places on the coast of East Florida and Cuba. They breed in com- 
munities like the Bank-swallows, making their nests in the holes 
and cavities of the rocks above the sea, returning to feed their 
young only during the night, with the superabundant oily food 
from their stomachs. At these times they may be heard making a 
continued cluttering sound, like frogs, during the whole night. In 
the day they are silent, and wander widely over the ocean. This 
easily accounts for the vast distance they are sometimes seen from 
land, even in the breeding season. The rapidity of their flight is 
at least equal to the fleetness of our Swallows. Calculating this at 
the rate of one mile per minute, twelve hours would be sufiicient 
to waft them a distance of seven hundred and twenty miles ; but 
it is probable that the far greater part confine themselves much 
nearer land daring that interesting period. 
In the month of July, while on a voyage from New Orleans 
to New York, I saw few or none of these birds in the gulf of Mexi- 
co, although our ship was detained there by calms for twenty days, 
and carried by currents as far south as cape Antonio, the western- 
most extremity of Cuba. On entering the gulf stream, and passing 
along the coasts of Florida and the Carolinas, these birds made 
their appearance in great numbers, and in all weathers ; contri- 
buting much by their sprightly evolutions of wing to enliven the 
