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. arly 
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. Thismostinteresting 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. Dalling’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 soit struck meat 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: once MA hn ees 12 (scant). 
Betlsenh. Poasomnasr ths Blue 1 
Carpal joint to end of longest primary .. 733; 
Tamsusos 0 JA +... 2555 de ere eS 1; (14 scant). 
Middle toe and claw .......... Sebi? 13 
“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 :— 
