. The popular natural history . Zoology. 4oS PETRELS. are similar, the ground colouring being of every shade, from pure white to intense red, and from pale stone-colour to light and dark green. The curious family of the Petrels now comes before us. A well-known British example is the Stormy Petrel, known to sailors as Mother Carey's Chicken, and hated by them after a most illogical manner because it foretells an approaching storm. This bird has long been celebrated for the manner in which it passes over the waves, pattering with its webbed feet and flapping its wings so as to keep itself just
. The popular natural history . Zoology. 4oS PETRELS. are similar, the ground colouring being of every shade, from pure white to intense red, and from pale stone-colour to light and dark green. The curious family of the Petrels now comes before us. A well-known British example is the Stormy Petrel, known to sailors as Mother Carey's Chicken, and hated by them after a most illogical manner because it foretells an approaching storm. This bird has long been celebrated for the manner in which it passes over the waves, pattering with its webbed feet and flapping its wings so as to keep itself just above the surface. It thus traverses the ocean with wonderful ease, the billows roll- ing beneath its feet and pass- ing away under the bird with- out in the least disturbing it. It is mostly on the move in windy weather, because the marine creatures are flung to the surface by the chopping waves and can be easily picked up as the bird pursues its course. It feeds on the little fish, crustaceans, and molluscs, which are found in abundance on the surface of the sea, especially on the floating masses of algae, and will for days keep pace with a ship for the sake of picking up the refuse food thrown overboard. Indeed to throw the garbage of fish into the sea is a tolerably certain method of attracting these birds, who are sharp-sighted, and sel- dom fail to perceive anything eatable. The name of Petrel is given to the bird on account of its powers of walking on the water, as is related of St. Peter. This Petrel breeds on our northern coasts, laying a white egg in some convenient recess, a rabbit burrow being often em- ployed for the purpose. The well-known Wandering Albatross is the largest of all the species. This fine bird is possessed of wondrous powers of wing, sail- ing along for days together with- out requiring rest, and hardly ever flapping its wings, merely with extended pinions. It is. GirilLEMOT.—(i/'na Troile.) side swaying itself easily from side to found in the Sou
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
