PROCELLAKIID^. 403 



The first recorded example from this county was killed in 1823 (Shaw's ' Zoology '). 

 In December 1831 two were caught alive in the streets of Plymouth, where another 

 was obtained in November 1835. Bolitho had five and Drew two specimens (E. M., 

 Mag;. Xat. Hist. 1837, p. 360). One was picked up in an exhausted state at Millbay 

 Pier, Plymouth, Xo\ ember 9th, 1852; and another, also in an exhausted condition, on 

 the rocks in Plymouth Sound during a heavy gale December 27th, 1852 (J. G., 

 'Naturalist,' 1853, pp. 84, 228); one at Plymouth in January 185(>; one taken alivo 

 in a court in Richmond Street, Plymouth, after a gale December 3rd, 18(>5, and 

 another on the Tamar about the same time (J. B. R., Zool. 18H(i, p. 102 ; and MS. 

 Notes). One November 30th, 1865 (B., MS. Notes). Two November and one 

 December 1872 off Plymouth. A bird of the year was picked up dead near Cargreen 

 on the Tamar, September 5th, 1883 (Zool. 1873, pp. 3400, 3443 ; 1884, p. 53 ; J. G., 

 in lift.). 



One was caught alive at Kingsbridge, near the estuary, November 17th, 1878. Mr. 

 H. Nichoils has two specimens shot at Tlturlestone (E. A. S. E., MS. Notes). One 

 was picked up on the beach at Kingsbridge in October 1891, and thirty or forty 

 Petrels were seen under the lee of an island off the coast during tlie S.W. gale of 

 October 14th, 1891 (A. H. Palmer in 'Field' for October 24th, 1891). A Leach's 

 Petrel was captured at 10 a.m. on November 22nd, 1SS6, resting inside one of the 

 ventilators at the Start Light (Migration Report, 1886). 



One occurred at Paignton November 26th, 1870 (J. H. G., Zool. 1871, p. 2443). One 

 was found in the bottom of a boat in Torquay Harbour after the storm of November 

 11th, 1891, being the first ever obtained at that locality (W. E., in, lilt.). One was cap- 

 tured at Teignmouth in November 1865 (C. S.). 



A specimen found dead in the marshes opposite Topsham in 1859 is in the A. M. M. 

 A P'ork-tailed Petrel was seen by ourselves flying over Southernhay, Exeter, during 

 a gale from the S.W., November 2<Jth, 1865 ; another occurred at Starcross, in tlie 

 Exe estuary, in 1866. One was taken at Seaton in the winter of 1882-3. 



The habits of Leach's Petrel are very similar to those of the Storm- 

 Petrel, and it is a widely-distributed species, being found both on the 

 eastern and western coasts of North America. Dr. Btillmore states 

 that off the south of Cornwall Leach's Petrel is not at all uncommon 

 in winter, and is quite as numerous as the Storm-Petrel. He writes 

 in his ' Cornish Fauna': — "During the prevalence of one of the gales of 

 last winter [i. e. 1866] a pair were observed at the mouth of Falmouth 

 harbour, trying all they cotild to get up the river. In vain did they 

 attempt to forge to windward, dipping from time to time in the trough 

 of the sea, and as rayndly emerging from the hollow, just tipping the 

 crest of the wave with their tiny feet. While thus occupied a violent 

 gust drove them both on board a llshing smack that was working into the 

 harbour. One struck against the mast, and fell dead in tlio boat. Tho 

 other struck the vessel's side, and disappeared beneath the waves." 

 Leach's Petrel has been also picked up dead in various places in Somerset, 

 and has occurred not unfrequently on the Dorset coast as well us inland 

 in that county. 



Wilson's Petrel. Oceanltes oceankus (Kiihl). 



An accidental visitor, of rare occurrence. One is said to have occurred 

 at Sidmouth in December l^Tt*. iJesides this o.\aini)Ie there is also one 

 in the collection of Uritisli lUrds formed by tho Itev. Alr.n Furneau.'^ 

 (received from Capt. Creyke, 11. N.) in the Museum of tlie I'lyiuoulh 



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