759 



MANX SHEARWATER 

 Puffinus anglorum {Tcmminck) 



Bird of passage, sometimes in considerable numbers in autumn. 

 Occasionally occurs inland. 



As a Yorkshire bird, the earhest reference to the Manx 

 Shearwater may be found in Alhs's Report of 1844, thus : — 



Puffinus anglorum. — Manx Shearwater — A. Strickland says it is 

 seldom found on the east coast, but occasionally met with, generally 

 in the autumn. 



The ]\Ianx Shearwater is a bird of passage, usually occurring 

 on the fishing grounds, or off the Headland of Flamborough 

 in autumn, but occasionally earlier in the year, whence it 

 would appear that the individuals seen in the summer are 

 non-breeding birds, as the Yorkshire coast is far removed 

 from their nearest nesting station. In August, September, and 

 October it is often noticed by the deep-sea fishermen when 

 hauling the herring nets ; at these times it also approaches 

 the shore, being then brought under the observation of 

 naturalists. 



In the " sixties " it was considered to be a rare bird off 

 Flamborough, as stated by the late W. W. Boulton {Zool. 

 1864, pp. 9291-9330), who expressed his surprise at meeting 

 with eight specimens off Filey. In 1876 it was common off 

 the East Riding and Cleveland coasts ; several were obtained 

 near Bridlington ; in the Teesmouth area I saw a flock of 

 ten on the 7th July, and one in August, whilst the Redcar and 

 Staithes fishermen assured me it was very numerous in the 

 offing. In 1887 it was plentiful off Flamborough from August 

 until October ; several were seen in late spring off Redcar ; 

 in August and September of the same year three were pro- 

 cured, and numerous others reported [Nat. 1889, p. S^,) ; it 

 was also very abundant along the coast from Flamborough 

 Head to the Tees Bay in the years 1885 and 1904. A most 

 unusual date on which to observe this bird in Yorkshire 

 is i8th January in the year 1888, when one was seen off Redcar, 



VOL. II. 2 C 



