104 OUR RESIDENT BIRDS 



sitting, the parent will suffer itself to be captured rather 

 than forsake its treasure. Very punctual in its appear- 

 ance at its breeding stations, and similarly when after 

 nidification it leaves for the open seas. 



Food. Fish and Crustacea. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. Under rocks, in clefts in rocks, in rabbit- 

 burrows, but usually in a burrow tunnelled by the bird 

 itself in soft, peaty soil, about three or four feet long, 

 terminated by the nest cavity. 



Materials. If any, a few grasses or bents. 



Eggs. One. Dull white, spotted very faintly with 

 pale brown and grey. It soon becomes dirtied, and the 

 markings are obliterated. 



MANX SHEARWATER (Puffinus anglorum). 



Widely distributed, and not uncommon round our 

 coasts, breeding in considerable numbers, chiefly on 

 various islands off the Irish coast, the west coast of 

 England and Wales, and in great numbers at St. Kilda ; 

 also on many of the Scottish isles. 



Plumage. Head and upper parts sooty black ; under 

 parts white. Sides of neck white, mottled with brown. 

 Bill brownish black. Legs and feet yellowish pink. 

 Length 15 in. Female and young similar. Nestling 

 covered with grey down. 



Language. Said to resemble " kitty-coo-roo," or 

 " cuck-cuck-oo." 



Habits. Like the Storm-Petrel, it is crepuscular, and 

 has a similar kind of flight, viz., that reminding one 

 of the Swallow tribe. It is a capital diver, and procures 

 food often at great depths. It spends almost its whole 

 time except when it comes to land to breed flying 

 over the open sea, fair weather and foul. It ejects a 

 green oil. 



Food. Fish, cuttlefish, offal, &c. 



