RAPIDITY OF FLIGHT. 
99 
near twenty flocks have been counted in a passage 
of a few miles. One reason why they have escaped 
the close attention of naturalists, is, that no person 
is permitted to kill any bird upon the Bosphorus 
without incurring the displeasure of the Turks, 
who, although very indifferent as to the lives of 
human beings, are extremely averse to take away 
the lives of animals */' 
Such is the singular account given by an intelli- 
gent traveller, to which we are enabled to add a few 
particulars, partly confirming, and partly contra- 
dicting it. The bird is called by the Turks, Armidau, 
and has been, hitherto, erroneously considered a 
Kingfisher t, from which species it is however far 
removed, proving, on examining a beautiful speci- 
men in our possession, to be of that family of birds 
well known to sailors by the name of Mother Carey's 
Chickens, and named the Cinereous Petrel ( P roc el - 
laria cinerea % ). Agreeably to the habits of the 
petrel tribe, this species is rarely seen to settle, 
though it does sometimes repose for a few moments 
on the waves, or alight when attracted by food, — an 
officer of H.M.S. Actseon, having actually caught 
one which seized his hait hung over the stern, at the 
extremity of a long line. A couple more were taken 
in a still more singular manner. Two flocks flying 
with their usual rapidity, in opposite directions, did 
not divide, but came in contact, immediately above 
* Walsh’s Constantinople . See also Sketches in Greece . 
•j* In Andreossi’s work, Sur le Bosphore, it is termed 
Halcyon Y oyageur. 
£ It is so closely allied to our Shearwater, that it might 
easily be mistaken for it. 
