256 MANX SHflAit WATER. 



it breeds on St. Kilda, and in one or two sta- 

 tions among the Orkneys. Mr. Selby procured a 

 single specimen off the Fern Islands. Mr. Yarrell 

 writes, " that it is a rare bird" on the eastern part 

 of the southern line of our coast, more frequently 

 seen at sea off Dorset and Devon, becoming still 

 more numerous farther to the westward ; at times 

 abundant in spring on the coast of South Wales, Mr. 

 Gould having obtained four dozen of them at one 

 time.* The Isle of Annet, one of the Scilly group, 

 seems now to be one of the best-known localities, 

 and Mr. Mitchell has given Mr. Yarrell a very in- 

 teresting account of its habits ; one part is covered 

 with short ferns, among which the Shearwaters 

 burrow ; they leave their holes when the other birds 

 are resting from fishing, and appear to be completely 

 nocturnal. Northern Europe possesses some stations, 

 probably also North-eastern Asia. Mr. Strickland 

 obtained it at Smyrna. Mr. Audubon met with it 

 to the westward of the banks of Newfoundland. 



In the adult bird the colours of the plumage are 

 few, above deep greyish black, beneath white, having 

 the junction of the two colours on the sides of the 

 neck and breast, transversely banded with grey and 

 white ; behind the thighs a patch of black ; length, 

 about fourteen inches. 



Following the Shearwaters, we reach another form 

 allied, at the same time exhibiting considerable dif- 

 ferences. All the known species are small, entirely 

 * Quoted from Yarrell 



