MANX SHEARWATER. 511 



her skin, she vomits a most abominable oil, in which float so 

 many particles of brilliant green that it appears of that colour, 

 though the stain it leaves is yellow. The quantity got rid 

 of in this way is sometimes enormous. 



" When the young bird leaves the egg it is covered with 

 greyish-black down, except a stripe along the centre of the 

 breast and belly, which is white. I found a chick very lively 

 in an egg which had been taken from the burrow two days 

 previously to my examining it. My notice was attracted by 

 hearing a little voice in the basket as I sat preparing a skin 

 about midnight. I thought of Asmodeus in the bottle im- 

 mediately." 



The Manx Shearwater visits the coast of South Wales in 

 considerable numbers in spring. Mr. Gould mentions having 

 received from thence, through the medium of a friend, no less 

 than four dozens of these harmless creatures at one time, with 

 an assurance that as many more would be forwarded if re- 

 quired. These were all evidently captured by the hand, 

 none of them exhibiting any of the usual indications of 

 having been shot. 



The Manx Shearwater is only an occasional visiter to 

 Ireland, and, according to Mr. Thompson, is more rare now 

 than formerly. It breeds every season at St. Kilda and 

 Soa, among the islands of the Hebrides, at Pappa Westra 

 in the Orkneys, and at Foula and Unst in Shetland, deposit- 

 ing its single egg either in a rabbit-burrow or a crevice in 

 the rock ; but as soon as the young are able to follow the 

 parents, all take to the open sea together. As observed in 

 the south, these birds are somewhat crepuscular in their 

 habits, and feed upon fish, marine insects, worms, &c. 



The Manx Shearwater is found on the coast of Norway, 

 the Faroe Islands, and at Cape Farewell, where the sailors 

 call them Cape Hens. Faber includes it among his Birds of 

 Iceland ; and Mr. Proctor, who has been there, tells me he 



