360 Web-footed Birds of Devonshire. 



Art. V. On the Web-footed Birds of Devonshire. By Edward 

 Moore, M.D. F.L.S., Secretary to the Plymouth Institution. 



This paper will terminate my list of Devonshire birds; 

 which, as might have been expected, from the extensive line of 

 sea coast on both sides of our county, includes a very large 

 number of species, and many rare specimens. I may especially 

 direct attention to the great auk, little auk, fork-tailed 

 petrel, arctic jager, glaucous gull, and little gull, as well as 

 to many of the goose and duck tribe. Possibly, the great auk 

 cannot well be claimed for us, as the circumstances of its 

 capture may very probably be explained in the manner hinted 

 at by Professor Jameson ; but we can certainly authenticate 

 eleven Devon specimens of the fork-tailed petrel, three of the 

 glaucous gull, six of the little gull, and two of the red-breasted 

 goose. The gulls are chiefly obtained here in winter, when, 

 leaving their breeding-places, they spread over the sea coast, 

 and our harbour is full of them ; but in spring and summer 

 we are deserted by all except the herring gull, which is the 

 only one that breeds near Plymouth. The rare species of 

 ducks are only obtained in winter, when the season is more 

 severe than usual. It is, however, during storms that we 

 make the principal addition of rarities to our collections; at 

 which time it is supposed that sea birds become starved, by 

 being blown inland at a distance from their natural element. 

 But this seems uncertain, as the two specimens of fork-tailed 

 petrel obtained in Plymouth were caught not 500 yards from 

 the sea : and I think it more probable that their seeking land 

 arises from their weakness; for, during storms, in which the 

 aoitation of the water lasts three or four days, I believe it will 

 be found that even the petrels, although very active, are un- 

 able to procure food at sea; and it is under such circumstances 

 that I have, at different times, obtained the following birds, 

 viz., the fork-tailed petrel, common tern, black-toed gull, and 

 young gannet ; all being in an exhausted state, free from 

 wounds, and the stomach, on dissection, found empty. 



It will, I think, be admitted, on inspecting the entire cata- 

 logue, that, out of the general list of British birds, Devonshire 

 furnishes a very large proportion, of which many are so rare 

 as to be denominated stragglers, or foreigners, and, therefore, 

 thought not proper to be admitted as British (see British 

 Animals, p. 94.); but, when it is remarked that, in many 

 instances, where one specimen is obtained, perhaps ten escape 

 capture, I consider, with all due respect to Dr. Fleming, it 

 would be impossible to omit them in a list professing to illus- 

 trate British ornithology. 



