408 LAlMDJi. 



terously pulled itself up by the hooked bill, until the claws got on 

 the edge. When handled it bit severely." 



The second specimen was received alive on the 19tli of Septem- 

 ber, 1839, by Mr. Davis, who informed me that — " it was captured 

 one or two miles outside Dungarvan by a person fishing for hake 

 \_Merlucins vulgaris] with a hook and line, it having taken his 

 bait. I kept it alive for about a week, but not having a suitable 

 place for it, had the bird killed and set up. It was more lively 

 than the former one — which, so far as can be recollected, it re- 

 sembled in every respect as to plumage — and ran along with the 

 breast about an inch and a half from the ground. Having on one 

 occasion placed tliis bird on a roof, it seemed to be more at ease 

 on the iucHned plane afforded by that situation than on a flat 

 surface ; and mounted rapidly to the top^ though on reaching the 

 edge, no attempt at flight was made, and it fell heavily to the 

 ground. It rarely stirred at all during the day, but kept itself as 

 much out of view as possible, and if the body could not be con- 

 cealed would endeavour to hide its head." On visiting Dun- 

 garvan in the summer of 1840 Mr. Davis learned that — " this 

 species is never met with near the shore, but only far out, and is 

 occasionally taken on the hook and line employed in hake-fishing. 

 The fishermen sometimes keep them for weeks about their houses^ 

 and in some instances the birds have become tame : they never 

 attempt to fly. A man had one a few days before I went there, 

 but killed it with dogs on a piece of water. I could not hear of 

 this species having ever been shot, or otherwise taken than on ^ 

 hook. It is commonly known by the name of hagdown.""^ The 

 Manx shearwater seems to be unknown there. Both Mr. Davis's 

 birds have, through liis kind attention, come under my examina- 

 tion. This gentleman remarks on the figures of P. major in Mr. 

 Yarreirs ' British Birds,' that judging from his two living ones 

 the attitude is incorrect, and if the bird could assume it at aU 

 (which he doubts) it would be impossible for it to remain in the 

 position for a second of time. 



Mr. E. Ball, when dredging off Bundoran, on the west coast 

 * It is called hackholt at tke Scilly Islands (Mr. Mitchell) . 



