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is 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 Har- 

 bour, 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 llth 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 approach- 

 ing a mass of weeds they raise their wings ob- 

 liquely, drop their legs and feet, run as it were on 

 the water, on which they at length alight, swim- 

 ming with as much ease as ducks, and diving freely 

 under the surface in pursuit of fish. The lay but 

 one egg, which is pure white. 



SHEARWATER, GREAT. 



PurriNtrs MAJOR, Temm. 



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 



