MANX SHEARWATER. 509 



by the absence at the present period of this species in the 

 Calf of Man, where, in the time of Willughby, and even at 

 a later date, they appear to have been very abundant. This 

 diminution of their numbers is wholly occasioned by the 

 wanton and greedy destruction of their eggs and young, 

 which are eagerly sought after as an article of food, the latter 

 being considered by many a great delicacy, and eaten both 

 fresh and salted. 



On the eastern part of the southern line of our coast this 

 Shearwater is a rare bird ; it is more frequently seen at sea 

 off Dorset and Devon, becoming still more numerous farther 

 to the westward. I have been favoured by Mr. D. W. 

 Mitchell with the following account of the habits of this spe- 

 cies, as observed by himself off the coast of Cornwall : — 



" To the westward of St. Agnes, in the Scilly group, lies 

 a barren island called Annet. Its northern shore is abrupt 

 and craggy ; it gradually slopes towards the south, and nar- 

 rows into a sort of peninsula, where the sandy soil is rich 

 enough to produce a dense growth of short ferns. Here is 

 the strong-hold of the Shearwaters. Sit down on a rock 

 which commands the little territory, and you will see nothing 

 but the Terns, who have a station on the higher and central 

 part of the island, and are making a flight of inquiry very 

 much like the Black-headed Gulls in your vignette, at page 

 443. Yes, you will see a hundred or two of Oyster-catchers, 

 who do not like your landing so near their nests, and make 

 short journeys hither and thither, whistling all the while like 

 birds possessed. You will see two or three pairs of Turn- 

 stones, and a few Ring Dotterel ; perhaps a Curlew. You 

 may wait all a sunny day in June, but not a Shearwater will 

 you see on land or water. There are plenty near you all the 

 time, however, as you may ascertain by the odour which 

 issues from the first burrow you look into among the ferns. 

 As soon as the sun is down you will see a little party of five 



