404 



only Puffinus assimilis, and not the present species, occurs and breeds on those islands. It is 

 found in the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. Captain Shelley received a specimen from 

 the Seychelles, and there is a specimen in the British Museum from the island of Bourbon. It 

 has also been recorded from the Caroline and the Pelew Islands, New Hebrides, and New 

 Zealand, but is said to be rare in the last-named island. It is also found in the Pacific, and 

 there are specimens in the British Museum from the Samoa Islands and the Galapagos. 



With regard to the occurrence of this Shearwater on the eastern coasts of the United States, 

 Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway write (Water-Birds of N. Am. ii. p. 388) as follows : — " This 

 species was ascertained by Major Wedderburn to breed on Gurnet-head Rock ; and is supposed 

 to be the same as the bird described as the ' Cahow ' by Captain Smith, in his account of 

 Bermuda, in 1629 *. It was found breeding by Captains Orde and M°Leod, and specimens of the 

 bird, together with its eggs and young, were procured in May 1849. To this statement Mr. Hurdis 

 adds that this species is still known in Bermuda by the name of ' Cahow,' which is said to be 

 an imitation of its peculiarly guttural note, described as sounding like the syllables cao-hoo. 

 Mr. Salton Smith, of St. George, informed Mr. Hurdis that he visited Black Rock, at the entrance 

 to Castle Harbour, where he obtained two young birds of this species and a dozen or more of 

 their eggs. Unfortunately his boat was upset, and all the specimens lost. The two young birds 

 were both found in the same hole, but the old ones were not seen. On the 17th May, 1849, 

 Captains Orde and M c Leod visited Black Rock, landed without difficulty, and on a ledge halfway 

 from the summit captured two fine examples of this species. One was sitting on a single white 

 egg ; the other had nothing under it. Both were found in holes in the rock, and allowed them- 

 selves to be captured by the hand. A young bird of the same species, covered with black down, 

 was also found upon the rock. The egg is described as about the size of that of the Common 

 Fowl, and more finely polished on the surface. 



"Audubon mentions that on the 26th of June, 1826, when becalmed in the Gulf of Mexico, 

 off the western coast of Florida, he noticed that the birds of this species were quite numerous. 

 They were skimming along near the surface of the water, and in doing this would flap their 

 wings six or seven times in succession, and then sail for three or four seconds with great ease, 

 having their tail much spread and their long wings extended at right angles with the body. On 

 approaching a mass of seaweed they would raise their wings obliquely, drop their legs and feet, 

 and appear to run on the water, and at length to alight. They were able to swim and dive with 

 all the ease of a Duck. Their wings are strong and muscular. The stomach of a specimen 

 examined resembled a leather purse, and was found much distended with fish of various kinds, 

 partially digested or entire, some of which were two and a half inches long. Audubon also 

 states that he has met with this species as far north as Sandy Hook ; and it is said by Giraud to 

 visit the coast of Long Island occasionally as a straggler. 



" Dr. Bryant, on his visit to the Bahamas, was repeatedly told of a singular bird called the 

 ' Pimlico,' which had a hooked bill, and only flew by night, and which bred in the Keys. This 

 bird proved to be the present species. It was very abundant, and was found in all the 

 uninhabited Keys, which were near the channel and not frequently visited. The birds were 

 breeding in holes in the rocks. He first met with them near Nassau, in the Ship channel Keys. 



* Cf. Newton, Diet, of Birds, p. 831, footnote. 



