BRITISH BIRDS 



THE LITTLE DUSKY SHEARWATER. 



Puffinus asszmi/zs, Gould. 

 Plate 79. 



Breeding on the Madeiras, Canaries, Cape Verde, and other islands in the North 

 Atlantic, and also inhabiting the seas of Australia and New Zealand, this small 

 species has occurred some half-a-dozen times on our coasts. 



It nests in holes and in cavities between or under rocks, and lays a single white 

 egg. Like its allies, it is nocturnal in its habits, and constantly flits around its 

 breeding stations during the darkness, uttering weird cries. 



THE MANX SHEARWATER. 



Puffinus angloi~U7>i (Temminck). 

 Plate 80. 



This is a common species in British waters, breeding on various islands off the 

 western coasts of Great Britain and Ireland, as well as in the Orkneys, Shetlands, 

 and Isles of Scilly, and chiefly inhabits the North Sea and the North Atlantic 

 Ocean. 



Through the kindness of Mr. Dorrien-Smith, I was able to visit a notable breed- 

 ing station of this Shearwater on the island of Annet, in the Scilly group, where 

 the turf and sandy soil on the upper and flatter part of the ground were honey- 

 combed with their burrows, so much so that it was difficult to avoid treading on 

 these underground dwellings. If caught in these places the birds seem to be quite 

 dazzled with the light, and flutter along the ground unable to fly, though in the 

 daytime when at sea they are active and wide awake. On leaving the island we 

 encountered a large flock resting on the water, which presented a charming picture 

 as each bird rose, and, rippling the surface with its feet, skimmed for some distance 

 just above the sea. When fairly on the wing they fly with great speed, and follow 

 each other as they sweep onwards in undulating curves. 



The Manx Shearwater lays one white egg in a slight nest of withered grass 

 within a burrow, and in the breeding season the birds are very noisy and restless 

 during the night. 



94 



