Any one of the several species of large antarctic petrels which feed on blubber and carrion and have an offensive odor, as the giant fulmar.
A large flock of gannets was observed at daylight, to issue out of the Great Bight to the southward; and they were followed by such a number of the sooty petrels as we had never seen equalled.
All petrels and their eggs have a peculiar, characteristic and oppressive odor.
A number of sheerwaters and petrels were about the ship.
In the afternoon, we passed some pieces of sea-weed, amongst which was a seal; we also saw another seal and some penguins: several whales and large flocks of blue petrels were about the ship.
We saw some rock weed, and a great number of blue petrels and albatrosses were about the ship.
This oceanic bird differs from other petrels and shearwaters of Micronesia by the presence of a white abdomen in contrast with dark plumage on upper parts, throat, and breast.
Coultas (field notes) writes that he was told by natives that petrels nest and roost on the high cliffs behind the city of Agana on Guam.
In one corner of the bay were nests of giant petrels in which sat huge downy young, about the size of a barn-door fowl, resembling the grotesque, fluffy toys which might be expected to hang on a Christmas-tree.
With the exception of a few Antarctic and snow petrelsflying over the sea on the calmer days, no life had been seen round the Hut during June.
At this point McLean came along from the west with the news of silver-grey petrels and Cape pigeons nesting in hundreds.
Snow petrels flew in great numbers about the rocks in the evening, seeking out their old nest-crevices.
There were hundreds of snow petrels pairing off, but no eggs were seen in any of the nest-crevices.
Snow petrels had been seen coming home to their nests in the beacons, which were weathered out into small caves and crannies.
Cape pigeons, the rare silver-grey and snow petrels were all present.
In winds of fifty to seventy miles per hour, when with good crampons one had to stagger warily along the ice-foot, the snow petrels and Antarctic petrels were in their element.
Hundreds of snow petrels flew about and some stray skua gulls were seen.
Giant petrels and skua gulls swarmed in flocks round the seals' and penguins' carcases.
At the Western Base (Queen Mary Land) eggs of the Antarctic and other petrels were found, and a large rookery of Emperor penguins was located; the second on record.
Many petrels on the wing were shot during the winter.
Neither the Antarctic nor any other petrels offered any resistance when disturbed on their nests, except by the expectoration of large quantities of a pink or green, oily fluid.
Four Antarctic petrels flew above our heads: a sign of returning summer which was very cheering.
The petrels flew up to her, and wailed round her; for they were very sorry indeed, and also they expected to find some salt pork; and Tom scrambled on board of her and looked round, frightened and sad.
And it's a shame of those black imps of petrels to call us so; but because they're her grace's pets, they think they may say anything they like.
So the petrels called to the mollys: but they were so busy and greedy, gobbling and pecking and spluttering and fighting over the blubber, that they did not take the least notice.
But Tom and the petrels never cared, for the gale was right abaft, and away they went over the crests of the billows, as merry as so many flying-fish.
And now Tom was all agog to start for Shiny Wall; but the petrels said not.
So the good-natured petrels said that they would show him part of the way themselves, but they were only going as far as Jan Mayen's Land; and after that he must shift for himself.
In humming-birds and petrels the trachea is partly divided by a vertical, longitudinal, cartilaginous septum.
A few petrels and puffins flew about the poop-deck; the doctor succeeded in shooting one of the latter, which fortunately fell on board.
And now Tom was all agog to start for Shiny Wall; but the petrels said no.
So the petrels called to the mollys: but they were so busy and greedy, gobbling and peeking and spluttering and fighting over the blubber, that they did not take the least notice.
Yet whales and seals, petrels and albatross, are exceedingly abundant throughout this part of the ocean.
Occasionally the ghostly shadows of silver, snow, and fulmar petrels flashed close to us, and all around we could hear the killers blowing, their short, sharp hisses sounding like sudden escapes of steam.
White-rumped terns, Antarctic petrels and snow petrelswere numerous, and there was a colony of adelies on a low berg.
Petrels of several species, penguins, and seals were plentiful, and we saw four small blue whales.
The petrels and skua- gulls were swooping down and picking them up like sardines off toast.
No pieces of egg-shell were seen, but the petrels and skuas had been there in force and probably would have taken all scraps of this kind.
I would imagine that one of these Petrels flies over as much distance in one hour, as one of the little blackPetrels in our wake does in twelve.
The flesh of these Petrels smelt strong, and was tough and not fit to eat.
No sooner have the Petrelseaten or dispersed the fish than they rise and extend their wings for flight, in search of more.
Defn: Any one of the several species of large antarctic petrels which feed on blubber and carrion and have an offensive odor, as the giant fulmar.
Petrels and penguins had their underground habitations in those parts of the island which had the most grass.
For several hours during the early part of the morning, a vast stream of sooty petrels issued from the deep bight which had been left unexplored, and passed the vessel on their way to the westward.
I had meant to see the fulmar petrels again before returning, but by the time I get to the top of the path leading down to them it is nearly six, the drizzle increasing, and the mist on the hills thickening.
The note which so astonished me never came from very near; I heard it, as I have said before, only occasionally, and it always seemed to come from a part of the rock where a few pairs of fulmar petrels were sitting.
Beyond, a stark silence reigned in this desolate natural setting, a silence barely broken by the flapping wings of petrels or puffins.
The Gulls, the Albatrosses and Petrels may be said to be the Vultures of the ocean—its scavengers; for they cleanse it of all the putrefied animal substances which float on its surface.
A boat was sent to fish with hook and line, and had some success; and at dusk a sufficient number of sooty petrels were taken from the burrows to give nine to every man, making, with those before caught, more than twelve hundred birds.
The spouting of a whale was occasionally perceived, and became more frequent on approaching the island; the number of small blue petrels was also increased, and a few Cape hens then made their appearance.
The above list will hopefully give you a few useful examples demonstrating the appropriate usage of "petrels" in a variety of sentences. We hope that you will now be able to make sentences using this word.
