SHEARWATERS 309 



flight which distinguishes them at once from other 

 Petrels, as well as from Gulls and Terns. They fly 

 into and through the water without alighting on the 

 surface to plunge, as Guillemots and Razorbills do, 

 and in this way pursue and capture small fish with 

 great swiftness. The crepuscular habits of Shear- 

 waters and Petrels is another characteristic trait 

 which distinguishes them from other sea-fowl. The 

 Manx Shearwater owes its distinctive name to its 

 former abundance in the Isle of Man. Ray named 

 it the Puffin of the Isle of Man, and, like the Puffin, 

 it nests in holes and crevices instead of on the bare 

 ledges of cliff's. 



It breeds in Orkney, Shetland, St. Kilda, and 

 the Outer Hebrides, North Wales, Isle of Man, 

 Caldy Island, Skomer, Skokham, Lundy Island, 

 and the Scilly Isles. In Ireland, according to Mr. 

 Ussher, the largest breeding colonies are on the 

 Skelligs and Puffin Island in Kerry, and on Rath- 

 lin Island and Arranmore in Donegal. Mr. R. M. 

 Barrington has taken the eggs on the Saltees, and 

 there are a few points along the coast of Wicklow 

 and Dublin where a very limited number nest. 



With these numerous breeding stations it is 

 not surprising that the Manx Shearwater should be 

 found widely dispersed around the British Islands 

 throughout the year, and it is one of the commonest 

 sea-birds to be driven inland by storms, often to a 

 considerable distance from the coast. One has been 

 picked up exhausted after a gale in Warwickshire, 

 i.e. in the veiy centre of England, and I have seen 



