372 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



ON THE HABITS OF THE MANX SHEARWATER. 

 By the Rev. H. A. Macpherson, M.A. 



Considering the attention paid of late years to the habits of 

 British birds, it is surprising how many points of interest still 

 require to be placed on a definite basis of ascertained truth. To 

 no species will these words apply more forcibly than the Manx 

 Shearwater (Puffinns anglorum). Colonies of this species were 

 visited year after year, but ornithologists for the most part 

 satisfied themselves with collecting specimens. The ' Trans- 

 actions ' of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society have 

 recently contained observations on the habits of this species by 

 Mr. J. H. Grurney, jun., Mr. E. Bidwell, Mr. H. M. Wallis, and 

 the writer ; and these notes are offered as a further contribution 

 to the literature of the subject. 



A visit was paid, on July 4th of the present year, to the 

 colony at Eigg, where an unknown Englishman had previously 

 made havoc of the birds, in direct defiance of the wishes of the 

 proprietor. Let us hope that the report current amongst the 

 fishermen, that he had killed " half a hundred " nesting birds, was 

 exaggerated. At any rate, the narrow track that winds along the 

 grassy slopes on the north-east side of the island was followed on 

 the morning in question, and not a few suitable spots were 

 examined for the presence of Shearwaters. The first burrows 

 approached were all untenanted, two or three holes usually 

 occurring together. After an hour's search two burrows were 

 explored side by side ; each of these proved to contain a single 

 bird engaged in incubating a chipped egg. Another burrow 

 disclosed a fine old bird, which had evidently elected to spend 

 the day underground. It appeared to be a male, being little 

 worn in plumage, though the fact that some males share the 

 labours of nidification was proved in 1885, when the writer 

 dissected a male which had a bare hatching- spot. Another series 

 of holes contained a solitary chick, and an old bird keeping 

 company with a nestling about three days old. Several other 

 holes proved to be occupied. All the nests contained fibres and 

 the stems of grasses, evidently gathered close by. No burrow 

 was more than a long arm's length in extent, and the majority 

 ran from right to left. The soil was constantly light and dry. 

 On being dragged into broad daylight without ceremony, the 



