760 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



where it remained on the water for some time near a fishing 

 boat. 



The Manx Shearwater has been known to fall a victim 

 to the attractions of the lanterns of our sea-marks ; one struck 

 the Spurn Light on 5th August 1883, and another was picked 

 up there on 3rd September 1888. 



In many inland localities it has been reported, being prob- 

 ably storm- driven from its accustomed haunts, but the 

 communicated and recorded instances are so voluminous 

 that a recapitulation of them would prove tedious, and is 

 unnecessary. 



LEVANTINE SHEARWATER. 



Puffinus yelkouanus (Acerbi). 



Accidental visitant from the Mediterranean, of very rare occurrence. 



This is the Mediterranean representative of our well-known 

 Manx Shearwater, and is the " Ame damnee " of Turkish 

 superstition, which is to the effect that the souls of the wicked 

 pass into the bodies of these birds, and are doomed, for their 

 sins, to wander for all eternity over the waters. I have seen 

 immense flocks, which are amongst the most noticeable 

 features of the Bosphorus, passing and re-passing all day long, 

 between the Sea of Marmora and Kavak, at the entrance to 

 the Black Sea, as many as fifteen flocks being within the 

 range of vision at one time. 



It was only within comparatively recent years discovered 

 to be a visitant to the Yorkshire coast, and is, so far as at 

 present known, of rare occurrence there in autumn and winter ; 

 but it is quite possible it may have been overlooked, and may 

 be of more frequent appearance than is supposed ; an examina- 

 tion of specimens of alleged immature or dark-breasted Manx 

 Shearwaters might lead to the identification of more examples 

 of this species. 



The first specimen known to me is one in my own possession, 



