416 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Genus PUFFINUS. 



The Shearwaters were included with the Petrels by Linnaeus in the 

 genus Procellaria ; but in 1760 Brisson established the genus Puffinus for 

 their reception in his ' Ornithologia ' (vi. p. 130). The Manx Shearwater 

 (the Procellaria puffinus of Linnaeus and the Puffinus puffinus of Brisson) is 

 the type. 



The species in this genus are large birds, the wings measuring from 14 

 to 8^ inches. The wings are long and pointed, the first primary being the 

 longest ; and the tail, which consists of twelve feathers, is short and rounded. 

 The tarsus is reticulated all round, and is about the same length as the 

 middle toe, but decidedly longer than the bill. The hind toe is almost 

 obsolete. The bill is rather slender, and the nasal tubes are only a third 

 or a fourth of its length. 



This genus contains about a score species, and is almost cosmopolitan 

 in its distribution ; but the Shearwaters are exclusively oceanic species, 

 only seen on the coast during the breeding- season, and rarely venturing 

 into the arctic regions. Two species only are known to breed on the 

 European coasts, one of which visits our shores for that purpose. Several 

 other species accidentally occur in the British seas. 



Few birds are more exclusively oceanic in their habits than the Shear- 

 waters. They spend most of their time on the wing, but they swim with 

 great ease, though they are rarely if ever seen to dive. They are very 

 silent birds, but at their breeding-grounds utter soft and agreeable notes. 

 They feed on fish and other marine products. They breed in holes, make 

 scarcely any nest, and lay a single white egg, which has a peculiar 

 smell. 



The British species belonging to this genus may be distinguished as 

 follows : 



fSoOTY SHEARWATER. Underparts uniform brown. 

 Lores and upper ear-coverts f 

 same colour as the crown.^j GBEAT SHEARWATER. 



[_MANX SHEARWATER. ) 



{ Wing 9| inches or under. 

 DUSKY SHEARWATER. ) 



