404 THE BIRDS OF DEVON. 



Institution, but we have not been able to obtain any information about 

 it. Mr. Seaward, a bird staffer in Exmouth, had a specimen which he 

 states was brought to him in the flesh on November ISth, 1887, having 

 been obtained at that place. 



Two at least, if not three, examples of this Petrel, which comes inter- 

 mediate in size between the Storm- and Leach's Petrels, have been 

 obtained in the south of Devon, and another was picked up dead in a 

 field near Polperro, in Cornwall, many years ago in the month of August. 

 One of the Devonshire specimens, that from the beach at Exmouth, where 

 it was shot November 13, 1887, is before us as we write, and we find 

 that this species is to be easily distinguished from our two indigenous 

 Petrels by its longer legs, by the webs of its feet having yellow patches, 

 and by a slender white line across the wings. The bird is said to carry 

 its long legs trailing behind and projecting beyond the tail, so as to 

 appear like two elongated feathers. It is an inhabitant of the Atlantic, 

 Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Flocks are stated to have been occasionally 

 seen at the entrance of the English Channel, notably one close off the 

 Land's End, by Mr. J. Gould, in May 1838. The only authenticated 

 breeding-station of Wilson's Petrel yet known is one on Kerguelen 

 Island, discovered by the Eev. A. E. Eaton, Naturalist to the Transit of 

 Venus Expedition. 



On our return voyage from the Cape of Good Hope, in October 1861, 

 several specimens of this species were captured by means of a fine cotton 

 line let out from the stern of the steamer. By careful management in 

 pulling the thread tight, and then letting it fall slack, just as a Petrel 

 passed under it across the wake of the vessel, the bird's wings became 

 entangled, and it was easily hauled in. This mode of capturing Petrels 

 can only be used in calm weather, as when there is any wind a fine line 

 will not touch the water. No weight (excepting sometimes a cork), hook, 

 nor bait is required. We have ourselves captured, and seen other persons 

 capture. Cape Pigeons and Gulls in this way, only using a stronger line. 

 It all depends upon the line becoming so tightly twisted by the motion of 

 the vessel that it kinks when slacked and twists around anything it 

 touches. The last Wilson's Petrel we saw was about eighty miles north 

 of Madeira, in latitude 34° 4' N., longitude IG^ 52' W. In some years 

 this species comes further north, and enters both the English and St. 

 George's Channels. (W. D'U.) 



Manx Shearwater. Puffinus angJorum (Temm.). 



[Mackerel Cock (Torbay), Cuckle or Cockle (Luudy Island).] 



Partially resident, but most numerous in spring and autumn. 

 Owing to its breeding on Lundy, on the Scilly Islands, and on Skomer 

 and Skokolm, islands oflf the S.W. coast of Pembrokeshire *, this bird is 



* Caldy Island, off Tenby, lias been erroneously added to the list of breeding- 

 stations of the Manx Shearwater in the S.W. of England. We have ascertained that 

 none nest there. 



