Procellaria Pelagica.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 152, 24 December 1903, Page 12

Procellaria Pelagica.

Oough Island rises almost sheer from the .sublime ilcop.s of thu South Atlantic, a lonely summit of the stupendous mountain which t>trclclies away down into the everlasting stillness and gloom of ocean's profouiulefit secrecies, lt-s Hides aro sullen precipice**, hardly tenuntublo by the cliff-loving«ea-birds; yet between those frowning walls, where cosmic forces have riven thorn, may be seen tiny beaches, miniature ha vena into which the enormous billows never penetrate, but which* are. too small for oven a msil to use. And peering with keen eyes into theso crannies, ono may discern, tunnelling into the face of the friablo rock, littlo galleries, easily marked by tho white at their black openings. In front of one of these stood on a day two littlo birds of an elegance and delicacy out of all keeping with their surroundings. Hardly as largo as a thrush, but sturdier in body, their plumage was dark glossy brown, with heads liko balls of black velvet, a splash of white on the rumD, square tails, and slender legs like stiffened strands of black silk. Tho delicate webs of their feet wore scarcely larger in area than a shilling, and marked with a littlo cipasn of yellow in the centre. They were tho fairies of tho deep sea, beloved of all mariners, and called indifferently Mother Carey's chickens or Stornly' Petrols. That mysterious impulse governing tho movements of most birds had drawn them* from their world-wide restless wandering to this strange, lonely spot, on family carea intent, for it ,was February, the Southern autumn, aud the petrels' nesting time. So they stood side by aide before their long disused dwelling, while the furious Western gale thundered past tho island, and tUI other sounds were blended in one majestic (elemental chorus. The air was full of salt spray, but wind there was> none \vhere thoy s^ood, for the tempest, hurling itself against that narrow cleft, made a buffer of air through which no stress of storm could pass. But, as if entirely indifferent to the colestiul war, ua indeed, thoy were, tho pretty littlp birds finished their toilet, and, crouching entered thoir tiny tunnel, cosiest of nooks, after their long wandering. There was no nest-building to do ; all wus ready ; and prcaent'.y tho mulo bird shot out from tho gallery, and, liko a gleam, passed' through tho rift in tho clilla to tho heart of the storm. 0 wonderful Nature! hero that wee creature wua at home. Amid thu thunderous rage of tormented seas In flitted, &o easeful, so secure. His bright eyes never blinked as thoy ranged everywhere iv quest of food, and continually he stretched ono 'slender leg aud then another to touch the 1 fretted surface over which he sped. Never yet wus observer keen enough, to notice the feeding of the tiny petrel in a galo ; but suddenly rising a little, he made ono curious movement with his tuil and was gone, through thu •portal* of the mountain, to his waiting mate-. So for threo day« ho toiled to sup ply her need** 1 and his' own by day, and by night, close nestling by her sido in the cosy dark, exchanged twitterings of truest fellowship. Then came tho anxious time of incubation, in which he look full share, flitting closely upon the whitish egg, while hut muto took her mazy, way among (he billows and around that rugged peak. Never was partnership moro put feet, equality of toil, of hope, of love, more equitably established. And than, amid excitement Mo intense- that tho two tiny crwu>ures acomod temporarily frantic, a brown puff-ball with beady eyes and wido-gupiug beak made its appearance. Pretty it waa to sco th© assiduity with which each parent, forgetting distinction of ocx, took turn about in tho family cares, or hbvr swfTt was the transition from tho dorksomo quiet of tho littlo home, where tho crash of tho warring elements without was mellowed to a d#op hum that vibrated through the bowels of tho earth, to tho crushing^ ohriekiug, roaring conflict of storm ana deep threo yards away. * The fledgling grew apneo, and iv» »turdy wing* developed rapidly. Father and mother coaxed and performed assiduously in the narrow space at thoir disposal, never wearying, ovor noticing how each lesson brought tho learner a step forward. Till one bright day, with a low cry of delight, the fuHier-bird, closely followed by his pupil, shot out between tho cliffs into the wideness beyond, and in a very ecstasy of rejoicing powers, Hashed from on© breaker to another,' followed closely as his shadow by his son. Suddenly, as a climax to his joy, tho mole bird saw hiii glossy mate shoot seaward also, the fruition of their long vigil attained. They wero perfectly happy. Back and forth they flitted, that happy trio, feasting royally; for tho waters were swarming tvith tiny medusa), squid, and all the. minor sea-folk upon wnom oucli countless myriads subsist, but who are rarely visible- to man, except to ono wiio.se restless dcairo for knowl«dgo of thu bca-peoplc makes him wait and watch as closely as ho who digs for gold. And just as tho great disc of the. sun was slowly settling behind- tho Western sea-rim, tho little family with one accord wheeled swiftly shoreward, and as unerringly as if fired from a gun by a good marksman, shot between tho riven rocks into their quiet burrow. Swiftly new the days as tho youngling grew und waxed strong, longer and longer wero tho> /hours during which it sped untiringly over tho billows, no longer in imitation but in emulation of its parents, until ono stormy day tho father-petrol swooped for a tasty squid only to lwvo it snapped up under his very beak by his son. Further proof of tho self-sustaining powers of tho new-comor was unnecessary, and five minutes later the faithful pair, their temporary attachment to tho shore over, were speeding northward with many a mazy whirl und loving dalliance with the spray, as if in sheer exuberance of physical powers marvellous to behold in such tiny birds. The next day saw them where thoy fain would be, iv closest companionship with a grand sailing vessel speeding homeward with all her mighty wings spread abroad to tho bustling breeze. Like attendant fays they hovered about her, now in her wake, now with easy grace and no apparent effort gliding right ahead as sho rushed along, and now poised »£ a butterfly over a flower, in tho very turmoil and seethe of the epray around her -rudder. At night, •when only tho murmur of the parted waves broke tho blissful silence of tho South-East Trades, a quick oar might hear the gentle little call of bird to bird, a koen eye might sec in tho darkness alongside, tho fluttering passage of theao weariless companions. Then a thoughtless young officer without occupation ono Sunday afternoon fastened a piece of fat to a fishing-lina and made- a thread of nowly-Uifred twino fust to that. 110 trailed it astern, and ono of the confiding birds immediately descended, only to find its littlo legs entangled and itself drawn on deck. Fortunately, just then tho Master cam© and saw. Taking tho young man by the arm as ho held the fluttering captive for examination, tho Master drew him to tho ride where the bereaved mate in till agony of loss wus making frantic (hushes at the steel side of tho ship. "Let that bird go, Sir," baid tlie M««ter wtcnily, "and never let me «co you molest a petrol again." Kelensod, tlio piotty creature Hod. closely followed by ita rejoicing partner; and none- of llio crew saw either of thoir littlo fiiends any moie. —Il'.I I . T. Bullen ir tie Spec f *tor. •