dial. [Of obscure origin.] The stormy petrel, Procellaria pelagica.
1813. Montagu, Ornith., Suppl., Petrel (Stormy),… Mitty, Assilag, Spency, Sea-Swallow, Allamotti.
1844. Zoologist, II. 627. Storm petrel,… the ‘Mother Carey’s chickens,’ or ‘Spencies,’ as they are called by sailors.
1899. Shetland News, 14 Jan. (E.D.D.). The Manx shearwater, or ‘lyrie’ of our native folk,… and the storm petrel, or ‘spencie.’
