406 THE BIRDS OF DEVON. 



south coasts of the county as an autumnal straggler (' Field ' for October 21st, 1882), 

 The late Mr. Ross observed that it is often seen in Torbay after herrings and sprats, and 

 according to our own observations it follows mackerel-fry in October, and is well known 

 to the boatmen as the " Mackerel Cock," and is sometimes very numerous (M. A. M., 

 Zool. 18(i9, p. 6330). But according to Baron A. von Hiigel' (Zool. 1874, p. 39U(>), 

 it seldom enters Torbay, although very large flocks are said to be occasionally seen 

 some distance oat at sea, and a few are obtained on the Bay in winter ; whence speci- 

 mens in the Torquay Museum and in the A . M. M. were procured. One was obtained in 

 Torbay, November 3rd, 1873, and several were shot there in November 1890 (W. E.). 

 One was killed on Kingsbridge estuary in 1874 (R. P. N.). The Manx Shearwater is 

 very numerous, and breeds on Lundy Island, where it is well known under the name 

 of " Cuckle " or " Cockle." Mr. Wright, the tenant of the island, informs us that 

 they may be heard wailing on any fine night during the summer. 



The Maux Shearwater is also numerous off the Cornish eoast in the 

 autumn, and flocks are sometimes seen in Poole Harbour in that season, 

 but in Somerset it appears to be unknown. 



Sooty Shearwater, Puffimis griseus (Gmelin). 



A very rare accidental visitor. 



Mr. J. H. Gurney has seen a specimen of this species in Mr. Gould's 

 collection labelled " Plymouth," Avhich was sent to him by Mr. Gatcombe, 

 and a second seems to have occurred at the same locality (H. Saunders, 

 Yarrcll's B. Birds, 4th ed. iv. p. 18). 



This is a larger species than the Manx Shearwater, and is of a uniform 

 dark plumage. It was for some time considered to be either a dark form 

 or the immature state of the Greater Shearwater. It is an oceanic bird 

 with an enormous range, being met with from Greenland in the far north 

 to New Zealand in the south. Two examples appear to have been obtained 

 on the South Devon coast, and one in Mount's Bay, Cornwall, the last as 

 long ago as 1838, and another in Poole Harbour, in Dorsetsliire, in June 

 1887, which seems to be the most recent occurrence recorded from the 

 south-western coasts. Mr. Gatcombe stated that it was occasionally seen 

 off Plymouth. According to Mr. Dresser (' Birds of Europe,' vol. viii. 

 p. 524), there is an example of the Sooty Shearwater in the Frome 

 Literary Institution, which formerly belonged to the collection of Mr. 

 Horner of Mells Park, but this is a mistake ; the only Shearwater among 

 the birds now there is a small species, labelled " Dusky Shearwater, 

 Ptiffimis obscurus," which after examining and comparing with a Manx 

 Shearwater we took there, for the purpose we ascertained to be without 

 any doubt only an ordinary and badly mounted specimen of that common 

 bird. But little is known as yet of the changes of plumage in this species. 

 It is abundant off the cpasts of Xewfoundland and Labrador, and in the 

 Bay of Fundy goes by the name of the "Black Hagdon," — " Hagdon" 

 being a name given to the Greater Shearwater. There is a great nesting- 

 place on the Chatham Islands off the east of Xew Zealand, and the Maoris 

 are said to be very fond of the young birds, which are enormously fat. 

 The actions of the Sooty Shearwaters at the nesting-season are those 

 of the Manx Shearwater on an exaggerated scale ; the noise they make at 



