. Cassell's natural history . ffs in search of the young, from whose bodies theyobtain down and oil. Xo bird, says Iennant, is of such use to the islanders as this ; the Fulmar suppliesI hem with oil for their lamps, down for their beds, a delicacy for their tables, a balm fortheir wouvids, and a medicine for their distempers. JIi. Jolin Macgillivray, who visited St. Kilda in June, 1840, remarks: The nests haduU been robbed about a month before bj the natives, who esteem the eggs of this speciesabove all others. Many of tlic nests contained each a young bird, a day or two old a(fuilhermost, th
. Cassell's natural history . ffs in search of the young, from whose bodies theyobtain down and oil. Xo bird, says Iennant, is of such use to the islanders as this ; the Fulmar suppliesI hem with oil for their lamps, down for their beds, a delicacy for their tables, a balm fortheir wouvids, and a medicine for their distempers. JIi. Jolin Macgillivray, who visited St. Kilda in June, 1840, remarks: The nests haduU been robbed about a month before bj the natives, who esteem the eggs of this speciesabove all others. Many of tlic nests contained each a young bird, a day or two old a(fuilhermost, thickly covered witli a long white down. The old birds, on being caughl,instantly emit a ([uaiitity of dear amber-coloured oil, which imparts to the whole bird,its nest and young, and even to the rock whicli it frequents, a peculiar and very disagree-able odour. The Fulmar is nearly as large as a gull, while the Stormy Petrel is about the size, andin appearance not unlike, the Swift, or luigest Swallow. Irou Iliiiin THK SlOIiMY The Stormj Petrel, or Mother Careys Chicken, is seen by navigators in everypart of the ocean, skimming over the surface of a heavy rolling sea. Before a storm,these birds flock under the wake of a ship, and are looked upon by the sailors asforeboding evil. But, says that accurate naturalist, Alexander Wilson, as wellmight they curse the midnight lighthouse, that, star-like, guides them on their wateryway, or the buoy, that warns them of the sunken rocks below, as this harmless wanderer,whose manner informs them of the approach of the stoim, and thereby enables them toprepare for it. Barry Cornwall thus sweetly sings :— ■ A thousand miles from Iniid arc wo,Tossing; about on the roaring sea ;Fiom billow to bounding billow east,Like fleecy snow on the stormy blast:Ilic sails are scattered abroad like weeds,The strong masts shake like quivering reeds,J he mighty cables, and iron chains,J he hull, which all earthly strength disdains
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1854
