STORMY PETREL.
1 have been enabled on several occasions, all of which have been catered iu my mites, to make observations
on tins species, when attracted by the means previously referred to.
.Mav 2Utb, l"-7-. Out to sea in a fishing-lugger off Brighton and SUiireham, in order to procure some
Stormy Petrels. When about four miles from the land, we put over a quantity of skate's liver and oil •, and in
a few minutes the first Petrel appeared upon the scene. We soon discovered that it was the best plan to throw
out the liver in large pieces, as the birds arc then unable to carry it off, and remain fluttering round while
endeavouring to secure a mouthful now and then. Should the pieces be small, they speedily pick up as much
food as they require and fly off n illiout affording a chance for a shut. It is astonishing in how short a time,
and from what a distance, they can lie decoyed by the fish-liver on the water; in a little over half an hour I
had shot eight, ami ha \ ing as many as were needed. We left the rest of tIn* bver for the (lulls and Petrels, and
proceeded to try the fishing at tho wreck of the old lighter off Shon ham harbour. The Gulls, I remarked,
were much more confiding than they hud formerly been, owing, doubtless, to the freedom (ram persecution
during the summer.
Ill order to protect the liver for the Petrel, I was obliged to shoot eight or ten Lesser Black-hacked Gulls
that were devouring all the liver as fast as we threw it out, flying almost on board our craft and snatching it
up as soon as it fell on the water. There were very few fish this day about the remains of the wreck, and after
bringing up for about four hours, we had only taken live score rock-whitings and about half a hundredweight
of small congers. Several more Petrel came round the boat when the tish to be reserved for our own table
were cleaned ; rock-whiting lose all their flavour if not attended to immediately after they are captured.
1S79, May 23rd. Out in the Channel off Brighton, in a steamboat, to look for Petrel, in hopes of falling
in with the Forked-tailed Petrel [TwahawiaVWM leuchli); only the smaller species were, however, observed,
and these came readily to Ihe liver and oil, followed in due course by numbers of Lesser Black-backed (lulls.
These undesirable visitors wa were forced to clear off, in order to preserve the food thrown out for the objects of
our search.
2 lib. Dense fog in early morning, and very hot aud slill till the sun broke through. Again afloat soon
after daybreak, but only fell in with the same species ; plenty of Petrel, and too many Gulls flying round,
requiring constant shooting to preserve our supply of fish-liver from being cleared off.
20th. In the nficruoou my sixteen-foot boat, with a crew of two MAN, was towed out by a steamboat,
about eight miles from the land, between Krighton and Shoreham, to have another turn at the Petrel. No
sooner had I descended to our craft and east off than a dense fog came drifting along from the east, obscuring
the view beyond the distauee of twenty or thirty yards. The captain of the steamb at at once stopped Ids vessel,
and hailed us to ascertain if we had a compass, and being informed we were without one, went below aud speedily
returned on deck with the necessary article. Having promised to steam out for us after dark, did we not turn up
by that time, he left us to follow our own inclination to remain in the small boat, which they all appeared to
consider rather risky. Some liver ami oil were put out on the water as the steamer movnl off, and we waited a short
time, but no Petrel were seen ; after about half an hour's pull we hailed again, though the fog was so dense
that nothing beyond twenty yards could be discerned. Another lot of liver and oil was thrown overboard,
and our nil ions were then served out; not a bird came iu view w bile we consumed our allowance, and smoking
bad been commenced before we noticed that one of the oars had slipped overboard without previously attracting
our attention. As we carried a spare set, no attempt was made to secure it at the lime, but merely to keep it
in sight ; a few minutes later a Petrel was discovered settled on the blade, employed in pecking at a piece of
liver which luid drifted up against the oar. Shortly after, two or throe more wero hovering round, and when
ready to move off, a couple were obtained w ith the lno barrels, the rest speedily taking t heir departure. During
* Tliii oil W» obtained from Ihe blubber ol SSSB killed in tho Ibrtineli Firth, off tho ei-t tout of Bow-thin, cut up Into < I ML., and 1,.,.J..,1
down in aealdron.
STORMY PETREL.
our pull towards the laod, through the dense fog, we stripped once more and threw over what remained of the
cod-liver and oil. One or two again came round, hut the drifting fog lieeame so thick, that we could not sen
them at any distance, except too chue to fire without damaging their plumage. The sound of trallic in the town
caught our cars after another pull of half au hour, and the line of beach shortly alter becoming visible, it was
necessary to laud to ascertain our whereabouts. It was satisfactory to barn that we were only u quarter of a
mile to the west of tho New l'ier, for which I bad ATTEMPTED to steer. The crew of the steamboat, winch was
just being got ready to go iu search of us, were much surprised to Hud we had reached our destination so early,
after an eight miles' pull in the thick fog.
In 18S0 I was again out in the steamboat, on the loth of May, off Brighton, to ascertain if Ihe Petrel were
now passing along tho coast. Starting at 5 P.M. from the New Pier, we lIlWBul about seven miles southwest,
and then put out the cod-liver and oil, and fifteen or »¡\tcon birds were counted hovering round it during
the time we remained near at hand. A small boat In longing to the steamer was lowered, as 1 had unfortunately
omitted to order the one usually taken out, and it was only with considerable difficulty that 1 was enabled to
shoot, as this dilapidated craft had no bottom boards on which to obtain a looting, and was utterly unfitted for
going afloat. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, I managed to knock down and obtain five ; double Ihe number
might, however, have been secured with ease bad the boat been property tilted, as the binls were but little
disturbed by the report of the gun, and continued Hitting round and peeking at the liver, anil skimming over and
dipping down to the oil without Ihe slightest signs of alarm. Few Gulls were seen on this occasion, though
several Hocks of Common and Arctic Terns passed, and two or three large bodies of Knots. A young trannet
in the s ml y ear's plumage al-n e and circled run ml us w bile u or I, ing :i» ay tow ards ll a si.
In November 1S72, I was iu the east of Norfolk, aud the greater part of the mouth was passed at
Yarmouth. On the 11th a terrible gale began to blow, with squalls of rain, from the north-north-east; largo
bodies of ton I were Iking continually all day towards the north, and the immense flocks of Dunlins, passing iu
rapid succession, were such as I had Deter w itucsscd before or since.
On the ttth the gale was from the east-north-east ; a few fowl were still flying north, but the number of
Dunlins seen on w ing were not to be compared with those observed the prev ions day.
Still blowing with fearful gusts from the cast on the llith; wild fowl iu small numbers wen1 now aud
then detected skimming over the breakers, on their way towards the north, but the Dunlins appeared to have
all passed, not one being observed during the whole of the day. There were hundreds of Gulls BaMng in the
harbour tide, where it ran into the roads, but only the usual visitors to the spot were observed, with the
exception of a single immature Glaucous Gull. Three or four Stormy Petrel remained feeding just off the
harbour-moulh, and occasionally tiling a short distance between the piers, where they wen' enabled to find
shelter from the cutting blasts.
On the 11th blowing still harder from the east-north-east, with frequent squalls of hail and snow.
Several vessels ashore between Yarmouth aud Lowestoft, and much wreckage ohsernsj floating iu the roads.
There was n large [lock of Gulls off Ihe harbour and a few flying up the river; some Kitliwakcs were blown
on to the denes, and several were with the swarms of Grey Gulls in the roads, evidently much cut up by the
rough usage tiny had suffered during the long continuation of the gale. A dozen or so of Sloriny Petrel were
flitting here and there between the piers near the harbour-mouth, and a few made their way up the river as
far as the wharfs where the vessels and lis lung-boats wero moored.
On the 1,1th there was a slight lull iu the morning, and all the common species of Gulls were seen in
hundreds just off the harbour-mouth during the whole of the day, several Stormy Pelrel Hying n- it Is them.
At daybreak on the llith (he wind had freshened, and a gale was blow ing hard from the cast-south-east.
The unfortunate litlle Petrel proved to be much exhausted by Ihe long continuation of the storms, and wero
even driven right up the harbour, several being seen on Dreydon mudflats. Off the denes to the north of