374 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



usually contained clear and liquid oil. But on July 4th one of 

 the breeding birds captured in nido, being stroked gently on the 

 back, bad belched forth a substance which an accomplished 

 physiologist, Dr. Fletcher, who was present, pronounced to be 

 without doubt the muscle of a species of fish in course of 

 digestion. It was therefore gratifying to see, on July 20th, flocks 

 of Shearwaters certainly feeding on surface fishes, especially as 

 the writer had never before seen Gulls and Shearwaters congre- 

 gating on the wing together. Dark spirits of the deep, as Shear- 

 waters usually appear, while careering headlong over the waves, 

 their sombre appearance on this occasion only served to create a 

 lively contrast with the white heads and pearl-grey mantles of the 

 adult Gulls. The Shearwaters did not linger very long upon the 

 water, preferring to take restless flight hither and thither. 



Despite their name, they do not literally "shear" the waves, 

 but only top them very closely. Their flight generally consists 

 of five or six quick beats, succeeded by a graceful gliding motion 

 for a few yards. This is varied by many beautiful curvettes, none 

 apparently executed at a greater elevation than forty feet above 

 the sea, though the same birds ascend nearly a thousand feet in 

 the gloaming, in order to reach such breeding-ledges as may 

 happily lie outside the reach of the exacting British " tourist." 

 On this occasion many Shearwaters were noticed until Eigg was 

 approached ; not more than half-a-dozen could be counted within 

 a mile of the island. 



Shaping a southward course past the Isle of Muck, many 

 Shearwaters were again observed, and a little north of Ardna- 

 murchan a dozen birds appeared close to the shore-line. As 

 Ardnamurchan lights were neared, two or three Shearwaters were 

 descried resting on the sea, somewhat in Gull fashion ; the neck 

 of the bird was bent slightly back, and the body floated buoyantly. 

 Two flew past within a hundred yards of the lighthouse. 



It is noteworthy that the Black Guillemot (Uria grylle), when 

 disturbed, generally escapes with short flights; the Razorbill 

 (Alca torda) sometimes takes wing, but more often dives out of 

 barm's way; Guillemots (Uria troile) and Puffins {Fraterctda 

 arctica), if alarmed, usually duck abruptly under. Manx Shear- 

 waters, though capable of diving strongly, usually shift their 

 quarters by taking wing. 



The foregoing remarks may serve to illustrate the facts that 



