422 MR. H. STEVENSON ON PUFFINUS OBSCURUS. [May 16, 



the Earsham estate (near Bungay) in Norfolk, about the 10th or 12th 

 of April, 1858, and was recorded by myself in the ' Zoologist ' for 

 that year, p. 6096. It was brought in a perfectly fresh state to a 

 Norwich bird-stufFer, named Sayer, by Captain Meacle, who, at 

 that time, rented the Hall and the shooting at Earsham ; but as, 

 shortly after, Capt. Meacle broke up his establishment there and 

 left the country, this specimen was altogether lost sight of, and I 

 was unable to confirm my first impression as to the species. Early 

 in the present year, Mr. J. H. Gurney, Junr., and I, in com- 

 paring notes for a revised ' List of the Birds of Norfolk,' had some 

 correspondence respecting this almost forgotten specimen, which was 

 fortunately discovered to have been preserved at Earsham Hall, along 

 with other birds killed on the estate, and had never been, as at first 

 supposed, the property of Capt. Meacle. This most interesting bird has 

 been kindly entrusted to me for further identification as to the species, 

 and for exhibition, by Mr. W. Hartcup, of Bungay, Trustee of the 

 late Sir W. DaUing's estate at Earsham. Owing to my temporary 

 absence from Norwich at the time, I did not see the Petrel in the 

 flesh, but I examined it a few days after it had been ' set up.' It 

 had evidently not been shot ; but a wound on one side of the head, as 

 though it had been hit, or had flown violently against something, 

 was probably the cause of its death. 



" Except on the side of the head as stated, the feathers were per- 

 fectly clean and unruffled ; but the inner web of one foot was partially 

 nibbled away, as though a mouse or other vermin had been at it, 

 at least so it struck me at the time ; but I have since found the webs of 

 the feet in other sea-birds, skins especially, slit up, from quite 

 different causes. The injury to the head is still visible in this spe- 

 cimen, on the side next the back of the case, and helps to identify 

 the bird as the one seen by me in 1858 if there could be the slightest 

 question as to this being the same I recorded in the * Zoologist.' 

 The webs of both feet are now imperfect, apparently injured by 

 insects. The man who stuffed it assured me that the Petrel was a 

 male by dissection, and in poor condition. 



" I have recently taken the following measurements : — 



inches. 



Total length 12 (scant). 



Beak 1 



(/arpal joint to end of longest primary . . 7^ 



Tarsus lyV (^^ scant). 



Middle toe and claw 1 ^ 



" N.B. When I first saw it, having been dead some few days, the 

 beak was a dull black and the webs of the feet yellowish brown." 



The following papers were read : — 



