258 
NATATORES. 
the Gulf of Mexico. This species breeds on low 
sandy banks, scantily covered with grass, and called 
Mud Islands, off the southern extremity of Nova 
Scotia. In the middle of Summer they form bur- 
rows to the depth of two feet, place at the bottom a 
few bits of dry grass, and lay only one egg. In two 
months the young follow their parents to sea, and are 
scarcely distinguishable from them. 
With its wings nearly at right angles with the 
body, in calm weather the Petrel runs or rather hops 
upon the water, patting it with its feet, and keeping 
its head downward in search of small fishes. Now 
and then the ear is attracted by its note, resembling 
the syllables 66 Kee-re-kee-kee ! ” which are more fre- 
quently uttered at night than by day. In every clime 
the sailor regards with friendly interest this lively 
and sociable creature. When, flitting over the long 
ocean swell, they chase one another in play, every 
one hails them as harbingers of fair weather; but 
when dull moaning sounds are heard afar, and the 
little rovers sweep near the vessel, or cluster near its 
sheltering sides, they give the timely warning to 
close haul the sails before the tall masts creak and 
tremble in the gale. 
Having now reached the limit assigned to our 
volume, we must pass by without notice several other 
species of water birds found upon our coasts, whose 
habits are interesting ; but we trust that the perusal 
of what has been written will have so far instructed 
and pleased our readers as to stimulate them to a 
