122 BIRDS THAT BREED IN MADEIRA DESCRIBED, [chap. vi. 



therefore not fearing, a man;" and Sir Hans Sloane tells us 

 that " wild peacocks and pigeons were here caught in abund- 

 ance with perches at first." 



The Red-legged Partridge is shot on the serras; sports- 

 men in Madeira must be prepared for hard work and a 

 light bag, for the walking is very difficult, and the game 

 scarce. 



The Quail is more plentiful than the partridge, and ap- 

 proaches nearer to the habitations of man; it pairs, laying 

 about sixteen eggs, and has three or four broods in the 

 season. 



The Woodcock is found chiefly in the west, and on the 

 Paul da Serra sometimes plentifully; it is a large bird, but I 

 think of inferior flavour. 



The Tern appears chiefly at the Dezerta Islands and at 

 Pt. S a .° Laurence 



The Herring Gull is common everywhere : Dr. Renton 

 says it is quicker by some months in obtaining its mature 

 plumage than -with us. 



The Cinereous Shearwater breeds plentifully on the 

 Dezerta Islands ; its cry, whether on the wing or on 

 shore, is very peculiar ; the natives salt it, and consider it 

 eatable. 



The Manks Shearwater is also very plentiful at the De- 

 zertas ; it is easily to be distinguished from the Dusky Shear- 

 water, which is another inhabitant of the Dezertas, by its 

 superior size, and by the colour of its feet ; in the dusky 

 shearwater the feet are bluish ash-colour, and in the Manks 

 shearwater flesh-colour; in the dusky shearwater all the 

 secretions are green, and in Manks shearwater yellow; 

 the dusky shearwater is a very tame bird, and will live 

 upon almost anything ; it runs along the ground on its 



