THALASSIDROMA BULLOCKII. 109 



In *The Field' (December 25th, 1875, p. 728), Mr. E. L. Layard says 

 of the Procellariidse of the Cape : — 



"These wanderers of the deep sometimes come to great grief in the 

 fierce gales that sweep over the southern promontory. If the gale lasts a 

 long time, they seem to fly to land for protection, and are cast upon the 

 beach, or driven a little way inland, to die by hundreds from hunger and 

 exhaustion. Some have been brought to me that have thus perished ; and 

 on skinning them I found them reduced to perfect skeletons, weighing only 

 a few ounces. 



" I must not forget to name here the tiny Storm-Petrels (Thalassidromce) 

 that patter along in the wake of the scarcely moving sailing-ship, or on 

 rapid wing (and against the very teeth of the gale) course about the stern of 

 the swift steamer as she ploughs her way through the tumbling water. All 

 weathers come alike to them, fair or foul ; they must seek their daily food, 

 regardless of storm and tempest, sunshine or calm. . . . 



" Often in moonlight nights, while standing in the bows or stowed in 

 the jib-netting, I have seen the little black specks rise from the water as our 

 ship stirred them from their sleep, and, dropping again out of harm's way, 

 resettle down again for repose. . . . 



" A collector will find a valuable auxiliary in getting specimens of sea- 

 fowl in a long-handled landing-net. I have often shot these small Thalassi- 

 dromce from the bows when the vessel has been making very little way ; and 

 by indicating on which side of the ship they would float, a confederate has 

 caught them up in the net. I also always travel provided with lots of strong 

 black thread, and in a gentle breeze start three or four lengths flying over the 

 stern, with a bit of lucifer match attached to each as a 'toggle.' Once let 

 the wing of a bird touch this in its flight, and it is entangled and secured by 

 the toggle at the end." ^ 



Mr. H. E. Dresser remarks (' Birds of Europe,' part xxvi. March 1874, 

 Thalassidroma leucorrhoa, p. 6) on the Forked-tailed Petrel, '^Jt breeds 



VOL. II. Q 



