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also found on the north-west coast of America, and 
in Bermuda. The only instance of the capture 
of one in Britain was communicated to the late . 
Mr. Yarrell, by B. Blackburn, Esq., of Valentia 
Harbour, in the county of Kerry. This gentleman 
states that the bird flew from on board a small 
sloop off the island of Valentia, on the south-west 
coast of Ireland, on the 11th May, 1853. 
The Dusky Shearwaters skim very low over the 
sea in search of the floating bunches of marine plants 
usually called the gulf weed. On approaching a 
mass of weeds they raise their wings obliquely, 
drop their legs and feet, run as it were on the water, 
on which they at length alight, swimming with as 
much ease as ducks, and diving freely under the 
surface in pursuit of fish. They lay but one egg, 
which is pure white. 
SHEARWATER, GREAT. 
PuFFINUS MAJOR, Zemm. 
This species has generally been mistaken for the 
Cinerous Shearwater, which inhabits the Mediter- 
ranean. It is said to be abundant in the Arctic 
Seas, and ranges in winter from Canada to the 
Gulf of Mexico. Several individuals have occurred 
in England; but very little appears to be known 
respecting this species as an inhabitant of our seas. 
In Iceland it is said to be scarce, and is only seen 
