THE MANX SHEARWATER. 267 



SPECIES 258 THE MANX SHEARWATER. 



Puffinus Anglorum. Jardine. 

 Petrel Manks. Temm. 



Mackerel Cock. 



THIS SHEARWATER, at one time occurring in greater abun- 

 dance than at the present, is a rather uncommon species. 



Widely distributed around the coast during summer, it 

 has been observed by Mr. Glennon about Galway and Achill, 

 and by Mr. Irwin, of Roscommon, specimens have been ob- 

 tained upon the northern extremity of the island, which were 

 described by him as being most difficult to shoot, from the 

 rapidity of their flight, glancing past the boat in an instant, 

 and if suspecting danger gliding sideways, and disappearing 

 in a few seconds, the long pointed wing and easy flight at once 

 distinguish them when observed. 



On the east coast it appears much more limited in num- 

 bers, and seldom ever ventures into Dublin Bay. One shot 

 there in 1833, by Mr. Massey, is in our possession. How- 

 ever, it is only at Lambay that we can gain any insight into 

 its habits, as it is known to the inhabitants, and the fisher- 

 men along the coast, by the name of mackerel cock, from its 

 preceding the appearance of that fish upon the coast. 



When visiting that island we were informed of their occur- 

 ring at one time rather plentifully, and that they still fre- 

 quented it to nidify ; the single white egg found in burrows 

 above the rocks being correctly described by our informants, 

 according to whom there were about a dozen birds last year 

 (1850), and fifty, twelve years previously. Two birds of this, 

 species were once obtained at Lambay by Mr. R. Montgo- 

 mery, from a hole in the cliffs. 



Obtaining the name of Manx petrel from their frequenting 

 at one time in abundance their great British station at the 

 Isle of Man, they are now almost a rare bird in its vicinity. 



In many instances having mentioned Lambay as a breed- 

 ing haunt for sea-fowl, it may not be uninteresting to enu- 

 merate the different species which tenant the precipitous 

 eastern side of the island during the season of incubation : 

 the common and green cormorants, the common and black 

 guillemots, razor-bill, puffin, shearwater, great and lesser 

 black-backed gulls, herring and common gulls, and kitti- 

 wakes. 



Amongst the land- birds which frequent the same face of 

 the rocks, we find the peregrine (rarely of late years), the 

 kestrel, raven, hooded crow, jackdaw, and stare (the chough 



