256 
MANX SHEARWATER. 
it breeds on St. Kilda, and in one or two sta- 
tions among the Orkneys. Mr. Selby procured a 
single specimen off the Fern Islands. Mr. Yarrell 
writes, “ that it is a rare bird” on the eastern part 
of the southern line of our coast, more frequently 
seen at sea off Dorset and Devon, becoming still 
more numerous farther to the westward; at times 
abundant in spring on the coast of South Wales, Mr. 
Gould having obtained four dozen of them at one 
time.* The Isle of Annet, ono of the Scilly group, 
seems now to be one of the best-known localities, 
and Mr. Mitchell has given Mr. Yarrell a very in- 
teresting account of its habits ; one part is covered 
with short ferns, among which the Shearwaters 
burrow ; they leave their holes when the other birds 
are resting from fishing, and appear to be completely 
nocturnal. Northern Europe possesses some stations, 
probably also North-eastern Asia. Mr. Strickland 
obtained it at Smyrna. Mr. Audubon met with it 
to the westward of the banks of Newfoundland. 
In the adult bird the colours of the plumage are 
few, above deep greyish black, beneath white, having 
the junction of the two colours on the sides of the 
neck and breast, transversely banded with grey and 
white ; behind the thighs a patch of black ; length, 
about fourteen inches. 
Following the Shearwaters, we reach another form 
allied, at the same time exhibiting considerable dif- 
ferences. All the known species are small, entirely 
* Quoted from Yarrell 
