80 Captain S. G. Reid on the 



ring Gull. There was a large gathering of these Gulls off the 

 Mole on the 8th April, when we were waiting for the steamer 

 to arrive and take us home, and I watched them carefully 

 through my telescope for some time. Their legs were un- 

 doubtedly yellow, and I cannot but think they were L. cachin- 

 nans. Probably both species occur. 



The Kittiwake was frequently to be seen off the shore at 

 Orotava, and Gomez has a specimen in his collection. Mr. 

 Godmau thinks this Gull may breed on the rocky coasts of 

 Teneriffe ; and I should say this was more than probable, 

 though I found the information to be obtained from the 

 natives as to the various species of Gulls, Terns, and Shear- 

 waters was, to say the least of it, misleading. 



Of the Shearwaters and Petrels I obtained examples of 

 four different species, Pvffinus kuhli, P. anglorum, P. obscurus, 

 and Oceanites marinus, Lath. ; but I did not meet with Bul- 

 wer's Petrel {Bulweria columbina) , which does not, I fancy, 

 range so far to the westward as Teneriffe, though, owing to 

 its nocturnal habits, it might easily escape observation. 



Early in March a friend, much addicted to deep-sea fishing 

 off the port of Orotava, informed me that there were con- 

 stantly hundreds of sea-birds of some sort round his boat all 

 day long, evidently engaged, like himself, in fishing. My 

 curiosity was roused, and on the 19th of that month, when 

 the sea looked tolerably smooth, I embarked with a small 

 party of friends, and young Baeza, in a substantial fishing- 

 boat in search of specimens. The treacherous ocean belied 

 its peaceful appearance, however, and we all felt remarkably 

 uncomfortable in a very short time ; but we stuck to our ship 

 manfully, and long enough for me to get what I wanted. 

 It really was worth all the discomfort, so far as I myself was 

 concerned, to see such a sight : — hundreds of Pvffinus kuhli 

 and P. anglorum on the wing and in mixed flocks on the sur- 

 face of the water, so busily engaged in their onslaught on 

 the shoals of fish that they hardly took any notice of us. 

 We shot three or foiir of each species, and then turned our 

 boat's head for the shore, where we landed and unanimously 

 decided to remain until our evil destiny compelled us to 



