WILSON’S PETREL 545 
1838 (Proc. Zool. Soc., 1839): Rodd, in his ‘ Birds of Corn- 
wall, mentions the capture of another specimen in Novem- 
ber, 1838, near Polperro, in Cornwall. 
Wilson’s Petrel has also been recorded from the follow- 
ing counties :— 
Sussex ; one obtained (Bond, ‘ Zoologist,’ 1843). 
Wiltshire ; one picked up, November 2nd, 1849.(Marsh, 
‘ Zoologist,’ 1859). 
Yorkshire ; one shot, November, 1874 (Eagle Clarke, 
Handb. Yorks., Vert., p. 85). 
Cumberland ; three occurrences, the latest being in No- 
vember, 1890 (Saunders, Man. Brit. Birds, 2nd Edit., p. 734). 
Two examples have been taken at Freshwater in the 
Isle of Wight; one in November, 1863 (Delme Radcliffe, 
‘Field,’ November 28th, 1863, and ‘ Zoologist,’ 1864); the 
other in the autumn of 1888 (Gurney, ‘ Zoologist,’ 1889). 
In Scotland there appears to be but one record, namely, 
that of a bird taken ina net after a gale on October Ist, 
1891 (H. Evans, Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1892). 
Coincidently, two specimens were secured in Ireland, 
these being the first well-authenticated occurrences. One, 
shot on Lough Erne,’ co. Fermanagh, October Ist, 1891 
(Willams, ‘ Zoologist,’ 1891, p. 428); this specimen is 
preserved in the National Museum, Dublin. The second, 
an adult female, found alive in a field at Mossvale, co. Down, 
in an emaciated condition ; it died next day (R. Patterson, 
‘ Zoologist,’ 1891, p. 427). 
Both these birds were blown inland. by the great 
westerly winds which were then raging. Another specimen, 
the account of its capture resting on rather shaky evidence, 
is cited by Thompson (Nat. Hist. Irel., vol. i, p. 417). The 
bird was supposed to have been taken in August, 1840,.some- 
where on the Irish coast, but the locality 1s not mentioned. 
In its flight, selection of food, and other general habits, 
this bird resembles the Petrels already dealt with; it is 
mainly a- bird of the Antarctic Oceans, visiting its nesting- 
haunts towards the end of November, and laying its single 
egg in January or February. It breeds in colonies, building 
among Jarge boulders or shattered rocks, in holes, and 
crevices. ‘I'he egg is white, finely speckled with small spots 
' Large sheets of inland waters should be carefully examined during 
and after heavy westerly gales, when ocean-birds are often driven out of 
their usual haunts. 
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