Notes on the Petrels of Madeira and adjoining Seas. 27 
I. Notes on the Petrels of Madeira and adjoining Seas. By 
J. J. DALGLEISH, Esq., M.B.O.U. 
(Read 18th February 1891.) 
In the course of an inquiry into the status of the Petrels 
frequenting the Madeiran Seas as breeding species there, I 
have recently received specimens of the following, all of 
which, except W@strelata mollis, have actually been found 
breeding on one or other of the small islands which adjoin 
and belong to Madeira, none having been known to nest on 
the main island. These small dependencies form two groups, 
one named Porto Santo, which includes several smaller 
islands lying off it, and the other the Desertas islands. Porto 
Santo is of considerable size, supporting a population of about 
1800, growing grain and vines, and lies to the north-east of 
Madeira. Its highest point is about 1650 feet above sea- 
level. Of its satellites, the three largest are Ilho de Cal, Iho 
de Ferro, and Ilho de Cima. Ilho de Ferro contains lime 
quarries, the stone from which is largely used for building 
purposes in Funchal. The Desertas lie to the south-east of 
Madeira, about ten miles from the nearest point of land. 
They are uninhabited save by goats, rabbits, and birds. They 
consist of a chain of three islands, the largest, Deserta Grande, 
in the centre; the other two, Chao and Bugio, lying off either 
end, their whole extent being over twelve miles in length. 
They are visible from Funchal, and form fine objects in the 
view from that place. All of them are very precipitous and 
rocky, and the landing is difficult and at times impossible. 
Deserta Grande rises to a height of 1600 feet, and is six miles 
long by one mile in breadth. It is bare, with the exception 
of two clumps of stone pine in the centre of the island; on 
the east side is a cave, frequented by the Mediterranean seal, 
Monachus albwentris. Bugio is four and a half miles long by 
half a mile wide at its widest part, but in the centre it is very 
narrow. It is upwards of 1350 feet in height. Chao, the 
nearest of the group to Madeira, is barely a mile long, and 
the highest point only reaches to 336 feet. It is flat on the 
top. All three islands are visited from time to time for the 
Orchilla lichen and barilla, which yield a small return to the 
