332 A DESCRIPTION OP 
flocks, to pick up anything that is thrown overboard ; 
but its appearance is looked upon by the sailors as the 
sure presage of stormy weather in the course of a few 
hours after. It seems to seek for protection from the fury 
of the wind in the wake of the vessels ; and from the same 
reason it very probably is that it often flies along between 
two surges. The nest of this bird is found in the Orkney 
Islands, under loose stones, in the months of June and July. 
It lives chiefly on small fish; and although mute by day 
it is very clamorous by night. 
Here ran the Stormy Petrels on the waves, 
As though they were the shadows of themselves ; 
They plough'd not, sow'd not, gather'd not in barns, 
Yet harvests inexhaustible they reap'd 
In the prolific furrows of the main ; 
Or from its sunless caverns brought to light 
Treasures for which contending kings might war : 
From the rough shell they pick'd the luscious food, 
And left a prince's ransom in the pearl. 
MONTGOMERY. 
The length of the Norfolk Island Petrel is about sixteen 
inches. The bill is about an inch and a half long, black, 
and much hooked at the end. The head as far as the eyes, 
and the chin, are mottled, in waves of brown and white : 
the rest of the body is of a sooty brown above, and a deep 
ash colour beneath. The wings, when closed, exceed the 
tail by an inch. The legs are of a pale yellow j and 
part of the toes and webs are black. This variety of the 
Petrel burrows in the sand like rabbits. 
