THE GREAT SHEARWATER IN SCOTTISH WATERS 143 



ship, and as they rose on our approach it was plain that 

 they were Shearwaters of more than the common size. I 

 at once called to Mr. Evans, and he, with his glass im- 

 mediately upon them, agreed with me. Hardly had we 

 recovered from our surprise at the apparition before another 

 pair presented themselves in like manner, and then another, 

 and yet more. Nearly all were in pairs, dotted about the 

 sea, and few took the trouble to rise from the surface unless 

 we were very close to them. Fewer still were flying about 

 of their own accord. If I remember right, a Manx Shear- 

 water occasionally showed itself, and one was able to 

 compare the two. Though the larger species seemed to 

 have a heavier flight, there was little difference in that 

 respect ; but in size and colour the two could not be con- 

 founded, and we could tell the one from the other nearly a 

 mile off. The dingy blackish-brown of the larger bird's back, 

 mottled when seen very near with smoke-colour, and the 

 whitish upper tail-coverts, contrasted with the deep black of 

 the same parts of the smaller bird, while the pure white of 

 the latter's lower surface gleamed in comparison with the 

 duller or even clouded look of the former's. Though I had 

 never before seen the species alive, I felt certain that we had 

 before us what was long known as Puffinus major. The 

 notes I made at the time have unfortunately been lost, but 

 to the best of my recollection we must have seen at least 

 thirty or even forty pairs, nearly each pair sitting lovingly 

 together. 1 This went on until we were within a few miles 

 of North Rona, after which we saw no more of them. Two 

 days later Mr. Hugh Popham fell in with these birds further 

 to the northward, but of that presently. 



On the 24th of June 1895 I na cl again the pleasure of 

 finding myself on Mr. Evans's yacht. Leaving Castle Bay 

 in the morning, we rounded Barra Head, and our course was 

 laid for St. Kilda. Again the sea was smooth, but a mist 

 hung on the water. We had not got far away from the land 

 when we met with some of our friends of the year before, 

 sitting on the sea in pairs and acting exactly as they did on 

 the former occasion. They seemed, however, to be more 



1 Mr. Evans would put the number still higher, 120 birds, or sixty pairs ; 

 and I have no desire to contest his estimate. 



