Birds of Southern Spain. 401 



311. Lestris pomarinus. 



According to my experience at Malaga, this is the most 

 abundant of the three species in winter. All the family is well 

 known to the fishermen as " Cagalo," a name equivalent to 

 that applied in northern Europe. 



312. Thalassidroma pelagica. 



What I am inclined to consider a variety of this species 

 breeds in abundance at the Hormigas, Isla Grosa, and other 

 islands outside the Mar Menor. Don Angel Guirao states that 

 " they differ from the type, inasmuch as neither the young nor 

 adults ever have the scapulars and secondaries tipped with 

 white.^^ My own note, made after handling his specimens in 

 1867, merely states " no white bar on wings /' but my impres- 

 sion is, that the white on the rump is less distinct than in 

 more northern examples ; still I was in such bad health at 

 that time, that I did not give them the attention I should other- 

 wise have done. 



313. PuFFiNus cinereus (Boie). Majorca, " Guay-guay.'M 



314. PuFFiNUs anglorum. Majorca, "Baltridja/* " Vi- > 

 rot." J 



Both species are abundant in the Mediterranean ; but the 

 latter, being far more nocturnal in its habits, appears to be the 

 rarer of the two. But pass a night at sea in a fishing-boat, and as 

 the sun goes down, and the last rosy tint fades from the moun- 

 tains, the air suddenly becomes alive with dark sharp-winged 

 Manx Shearwaters, dashing hither and thither in the gloom, 

 and justifying the names the Malaga fishermen give them of 

 " Animas" and " Diablos." The larger species may be seen in 

 great numbers in the daytime ; and both breed at the island of 

 Dragonera. To my great surprise, I found that I was too late 

 for eggs on the 20th May, and a nestling obtained by a fisher- 

 man was considered a very backward bird. Still several were 

 in their holes at the Dragonera ; for we could hear their " croon- 

 ing," changed to a harsher note on our endeavouring to hook 

 them out with a rude gaff; but in this we were unsuccessful, 

 and, being short of water, had to leave the island but half 

 explored. 



