Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1883 — The Stormy Petrel. [ARTICLE]

The Stormy Petrel.

When one of Mother Carey’s chickens, or stormy petrel, is seen near the ship, a storm is approaching, for these birds are rarely seen in fair weather. It is a forecastle notion that the petrel is so named from St. Peter, on account of its running with closed wings over the surface of the waves. This brought to mind the walking of St. Peter upon the water, and the sailors think the bird was therefore called “petrel“ as a sort of diminutive of the apostle’s name. These birds have been known to follow a vessel during a storm for many days, apparently with neither food nor rest, and without flapping their wings. If one of these birds should be swept aboard in a great storm, as is frequently the case, no sailor will touoh it. Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.— Shakspeare. * -