( 553 ) 

 THE WANDERING SHEARWATER. 



PUFFINUS CINEREUS, CuV. 

 PLATE CCLXXXIII. Male. 



I HAVE found this species ranging from the Gulf of St Lawrence to 

 that of Mexico, but have very seldom seen it near the coast. While sail- 

 ing round Nova Scotia, on my way to Labrador, early in June, I ob- 

 served one evening about sunset, a great number flying from the rockv 

 shores, which induced me to think that they bred there. Scarcely one 

 was to be seen during the day, and this circumstance strengthened my 

 opinion, as I was aware that these birds are in the habit of remaining 

 about their nests at that time. In September the case is very different ; 

 for ihey are then seen far out at sea, at all hours by day and through the 

 night. 



In calm weather, they are fond of alighting on the water, in company 

 with the Fulmars, and are then easily approached. They swim buoyant- 

 ly, and have a graceful appearance while playing among themselves. 

 Two that had been caught with hooks, walked as well as Ducks, and 

 made no pretence of sitting on their rumps, as some writers have said 

 they do. On being approached, they opened their bills, raised their fea- 

 thers, and squirted an oily substance through their nostrils, which they 

 continued to do when held in the hand, at the same time scratching with 

 their sharp claws and bills. They refused all sorts of food ; and as they 

 were unpleasant pets, they were set at liberty. To my great surprise, 

 instead of flying directly off, as I expected, they launched toward the 

 water, dived several yards obliquely, and on coming to the surface, splashed 

 and washed themselves for several minutes before they took to wino-, when 

 they flew away with their usual ease and grace. 



The flight of this wanderer of the ocean is extremely rapid and pro- 

 tracted. When it blows hard, it skims along the troughs of the waves 

 on extended wings in large curves, shewing its upper and lower parts al- 

 ternately, evidently with the view of being aided by the wind. In calm 

 weather its flight is much lower and less rapid, and it rarely throws its 

 body sideways, but seems to feed more abundantly than during boiste- 

 rous weather. Like the small Petrels, it frequently uses its feet to sup- 



