STORM PETREL. 43 



two and three hundred were shot after severe gales. Some 

 years since, Mr. Gould exhibited twenty-four, in a large 

 dish, at one of the evening meetings of the Zoological 

 Society. In March, 1825, one bird of this species, while 

 flying about over the Thames between the bridges of Black- 

 friars and Westminster, was shot from a coal-barge. These 

 small birds are frequently driven by strong winds to great 

 distances inland. Mr. Bicheno has recorded one taken near 

 Newbury, in Berkshire ; others have been taken in Oxford- 

 shire ; three or four are noticed as having been caught in 

 the streets of the town of Coventry ; and three within a 

 few miles of Birmingham. This species appears to breed 

 freely at many different places around us, generally on small 

 islands ; but is never observed to frequent land except during 

 the breeding-season. Among some other notes recently 

 referred to, Mr. D. W. Mitchell says, " The Stormy Petrel 

 also breeds at Scilly, and is, as far as I know, confined to 

 one locality, on the islet where the * Thames ' steamer ran 

 ashore, in the extreme S.W. of the group. It is the latest 

 layer among the sea-fowl ; the first egg I took was newly 

 dropped in the second week of June." Mr. Rodd says that, 

 on fine summer evenings, small flocks may be observed in 

 Mount's Bay, flying and hawking about in pursuit of insects, 

 after the manner of Swallows, sometimes dipping, but 

 seldom alighting on the sea, skimming for a few seconds 

 with open wings, and mounting again in the air, regardless 

 of the presence of man. The Storm Petrel is believed to 

 breed on Lundy Island ; and it certainly does so on several 

 of the Channel Islands ; also on some of the islets off" the 

 coast of Wales ; but on the east coast of England it is 

 not known to have any breeding-haunts. On that side its 

 appearances generally take place in the autumn migration, 

 at which period, as Mr. Cordeaux informs the Editor, indi- 

 viduals are frequently taken fluttering against the lanterns 

 of light-houses and light-ships, although they very seldom 

 get killed by striking. Unusual numbers occurred between 

 October 27th and November 4th, 1883. 



Among the islands of the west of Scotland, the Storm 



