74 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
species must be considered a scarce one in this county.—DicBy = Ws 
NicHou (Cowbridge, Glamorganshire). 
Food of the Manx Shearwater.—In reply to Mr. C. R. Gawen’s 
enquiry (p. 24), whether the sprats disgorged by the Manx Shearwater 
might have been thrown overboard by some of the fishermen, as well as the 
entrails (also disgorged), I do not think so, for the sprats looked perfectly 
fresh and silvery, as if only swallowed a few minutes before the bird was 
shot: another reason against the supposition is, that fishermen are too 
economical of their bait to throw any of it overboard while fresh ; and the 
third reason is, that during that week’s fishing, and on that day, we used 
herrings for bait, there being no sprats for sale in the bait market at 
Queenstown. But why there should be any doubt as to the Shearwater 
catching fish for food, because it has not been recorded that any person has 
actually seen them catch and swallow fish, I cannot understand. [Capt. 
S. G. Reid has so observed them. See ‘ The Ibis,’ 1888, p. 80.—Ep.] Their 
gliding flight, and skimming the surface of the water, would give very little 
opportunity to the observer to obtain even a passing glance at the sort of 
food they pick up: even the very shape of the Shearwater’s bill, with its 
sharp sides and hooked point, shows that it must be a very efficient weapon 
for both catching and holding such slippery prey. On referring to my note- 
book I find that we were out on the “ Maide,” a fishing-ground about three 
miles outside Cork Harbour, fishing for Hake, and while at anchor—as 
early as 12 o'clock in the day—we observed several flocks of Shearwaters 
flying about, and as one flock passed close by I knocked down two birds, 
and, as we got into the small boat to pick them up, one of them—very badly 
hit, almost dying—threw up some solid matter when caught; the second, 
being only winged, swam off, diving several times, but only for a short 
distance, under water, and, when overtaken and about to be caught, 
disgorged the sprats and fish entrails, as I have already stated. On the 
same occasion I remarked a pair of dark-coloured Shearwaters, much larger 
than the others, amongst a flock of the common ones; these I took to be 
the Great Shearwater, Puffinus major; but a short time ago having been 
shown a specimen of the Sooty Shearwater, P. griseus, taken off the Kerry 
coast, J am now of the opinion they were the last-named species, from the 
under parts being so much darker than those of the Great Shearwater. 
The occurrences of that day were deeply impressed on my memory, for it 
was the last day’s Hake-fishing I ever enjoyed. We took our eighty-five 
Hake ; and my brother—quite a small boy—caught sixteen fine fish, and a 
Turbot of six pounds weight, on his own line-—Rospert WARREN (Moy- 
view, Ballina). 
Habits of the Manx Shearwater.—Mr. Gawen and myself have 
arrived at such a pleasant termination to our discussion on the Shearwater, 
