f 



GREATER SHEARWATER. 2/3 



/non in the Mediterranean and on the southern coasts of Spain 

 and Provence, but never proceeds to the Adriatic. 



On approaching the banks of Newfoundland, but far west of 

 soundings, we see the soaring and wandering Lestris, and every 

 day the wild Shearwaters, but more particularly in blowing 

 and squally weather ; sometimes also in fine weather we see 

 them throughout the day. Their course in the air is exceed- 

 ingly swift and powerful. With their long wings outstretched 

 and almost motionless, they sweep over the wild waves, fearless 

 of every danger, flying out in vast curves, watching at the same 

 time intently for their finny prey. Like the Petrels, these 

 Shearwaters are often seen to trip upon the water with ex- 

 tended feet and open wings ; they likewise dive for small fish, 

 and find an advantage in the storm, whose pellucid mountain 

 waves bring to view the shiny prey to more advantage, — the 

 birds are therefore often seen most active at such times, watch- 

 ing the sweeping billow as it rises and foams along, harassing 

 and pursuing their quarry with singular address, snatching it 

 from the surface, or diving after it through the waves, on which 

 they are often seen to sit, mounting to the sky or sinking into 

 the yawning abyss of the raging deep. 



The Greater Shearwater probably breeds on the islands of the 

 North Atlantic, though no authentic account of the nest and eggs 

 has been published. Some eggs received from Greenland, and 

 supposed by good authorities to be of this species, are described 

 as white, and averaging about 2.80 X 1.90. 



The name Cinereous, applied to this bird by Nuttall, is now 

 restricted to an alHed species, Pnffifiits ktihlii, which breeds on 

 various islands in the Mediterranean and on the Azores. 



Our bird is numerous on the shores of Greenland up to about 

 latitude 6$°, and is quite common off the New England coasts dur- 

 ing the winter, though usually far away from the shore. 



The fishermen call it the " Hagdon," in common with others of 

 the genus and the Fulmar. 



In the illustration the Greater Shearwater is represented by the 

 lower figure ; the upper one represents the Sooty Shearwater, 



VOL. II. — 18 



