J. SANSOM.
Oxford.
Mother Carey's Chickens (Vol. v., p. 344.).
—Navigators meet with the Little Petrel, Storm Finch, or Stormy Petrel, the Procellaria pellagica of Linnæus, in every part of the ocean, diving, running on foot, or skimming over the highest waves with the greatest ease. It seems to foresee the coming storm long ere the seamen can discover any signs of its approach; and they make this known by congregating together under the wake of the vessel, as if to shelter themselves from it, and they thus warn the mariner to guard against the coming danger. At night they set up a piercing cry. This usefulness to the sailor is the obvious cause of the latter having such an objection to their being killed. I am unable to say who Mother Carey was; but I might venture a conjecture why the bird who guards the seaman with such care bears its familiar name.
UNICORN.
The name of "Mother Carey's Chickens" is said to have been originally bestowed upon Stormy Petrels by Captain Carteret's sailors, probably from some celebrated ideal hag of that name. As these birds are supposed to be seen only before stormy weather, they are not welcome visitors.
WM. YARRELL.
Burnomania (Vol. v., p. 127.).
—Your correspondent ELGINENSIS has got the "Burnomania" of Dr. William Peebles, the minister of Newton-upon-Ayr, himself one of the minor poets of Scotland by virtue of his Crisis, or the Progress of Revolutionary Principles, Edinburgh, 1803 and 1804; and Poems, consisting of Odes and Elegies, Glasgow, 1810; all in my collection.
Like the transcendent powers of a living vocalist, the genius of Burns could brook no rival, and for a long period, notwithstanding the futile attempts of the smaller poetical fry to arrest its progress by their Lilliputian shafts, the "Ayrshire Ploughman" maintained a species of monopoly of the public mind and attention.