398 Mr. W. C. Tait on the Birds of Portugal, 



268. PuFFiNUSGRiSEUS (Gmel.). " Pardella preta/^ Povoa 

 de Varzim. 



The Sooty Shearwater is sometimes met with on this coast 

 and is known to the fishermen. The only specimen as yet 

 procured in this country is in my collection, and was obtained 

 off Mattosinbos, near Oporto, during the autumn. Professor 

 Newton informs me that this South Atlantic species had 

 not been known previously from the coast of Portugal. 



269. PuFFiNus MAJOR, Pabcr. " Pardella de bico preto," 

 Oporto. 



The Great Shearwater arrives on the coast of Portugal in 

 the beginning of September, is plentiful in October and 

 November, and is said to disappear during December ; but 

 the fishermen's accounts, are rather confusing and con- 

 tradictory on this point. Those which I have were obtained 

 in October and November, when large numbers are brought 

 in by the fisbing-boats. I have not heard of them during the 

 spring, but it is probable that the movements of these birds 

 are almost entirely influenced by those of the shoals of 

 sardines and other small fish. 



270. PuFFiNus KUHLi (Boic) , " Pardella de bico branco," 

 Povoa de Varzim; " Maranhona,^' " Moira,'' "Pardillao/' 

 Oporto. 



I found the Mediterranean Shearwater nesting in holes 

 under large stones on the north-east side of Berlenga Island, 

 in 1879, at the end of May, laying one large white ^^^. The 

 majority lay in June. A bird which I assisted to catch on 

 the nest bit and snapped fiercely with its hooked bill, making 

 at the same time a huffing noise, reminding me of the similar 

 noise made by Pigeons under same circumstances. This and 

 some other points of resemblances lead me to suspect that 

 the affinity between the Shearwaters and Pigeons is closer 

 than would appear at first sight, and I am not aware that it 

 has received the attention it deserves. Professor Huxley has 

 placed the orders Columbse and Tubinares under the Schizo- 

 gnathse. 



The difference between this species and P. major is well 

 known to the Povoa fishermen. They say that P. kuhli has 



