CINEREOUS SHEAEWATEB. 125 



Shearwaters, in immature plumage, was caught by a boy at 

 the mouth of the River Ouse, near Lynn, on the 25th. of 

 July, 1851. 



In Orkney one was procured from the Island of Foula, in 

 the year 1853, as related in a note to me from Dr. Baikie, 

 supplemental to the Natural History of Orkney by himself 

 and Mr. Heddle. Mr. J. J. Watters, Jun., in his 'Catalogue 

 of the Birds of Ireland,' mentions it as occurring, but rare. 

 Two were taken in the autumn of 1839, off Dungarvan Bay. 



These birds are of crepuscular or twilight habits. 



They are kept in confinement without difficulty, if supplied 

 with suitable food and water. On the ground they walk and 

 run about with the body near the ground. In flight they 

 skim close over the surface of the water, whence their 

 appropriate name. 

 They feed on fish, sea-worms, and other marine insects. 



This Shearwater is of very plain and dull plumage, and 

 even in the summer season, when all birds put on their best, 

 the gayest apparel that it dons, 'la haute toilette,' is sober 

 and unpretending. Male; length, one foot six inches; bill, 

 dark brown, the under mandible paler at the base: there is 

 a double tube on the upper one, from whence the bill rounds 

 slightly upwards, and then tends down in a deep hook, the 

 points of both mandibles being bent downwards. Iris, dark 

 brown; head on the crown and back, dark ash grey; neck 

 on the back, and nape, greyish white; chin, throat, and breast, 

 white, the latter on the lower part varied with dull greyish 

 brown. Back, ash grey, the margins of the feathers lighter. 



Greater and lesser wing coverts, ash grey, the edges of 

 the feathers paler; primaries, blackish brown; tertiaries, ash 

 grey, the edges lighter coloured. Tail, blackish brown; upper 

 tail coverts, a mixture of dull white and greyish brown. The 

 legs, which are placed far backwards, are much compressed 

 laterally, they, as the toes, are brownish yellow; hind toe 

 rudimentary; webs, brownish yellow. 



In the female the length is a little over one foot five 

 inches; bill, dark brown, the base of the lower mandible paler; 

 iris, dark brown; head, crown, neck, and nape, dark brown; 

 chin and throat, greyish brown. Breast, greyish brown, the 

 feathers darker on the edges. Back, dark dusky brown. 

 Greater and lesser wing coverts, dusky blackish brown; pri- 

 maries, dusky blackish brown; tertiaries, dark brown, the 

 edges paler. Tail, blackish brown; legs, deep greyish brown 



