MANX SHEARWATER. 
i6s 
caused by the graze of a round shot as it ricochets upon the 
“ The burrows are dug in the dry crumbling soil of the steep 
cliffs, varying from i8 inches to 2 feet in depth, or even more, 
and are so narrow that the introduction of the hand is a 
matter of some difficulty when the hole happens to be new, 
and therefore but little worn by the passage of the bird. A 
fresh hole is not necessarily dug every season, the old ones 
being often made to serve again. To look at, the bill would 
not seem to be very well adapted for digging ; but still it 
answers the purpose, possessing more strength than the 
observer would, at first sight, imagine. 1 he hooked point is 
very hard and sharp, as a certain scar on one ot my hands can 
testify ■ and the edges of the mandible, too, are very keen, and 
have more than once drawn blood from my fingers. The sand 
is scraped out in sufficient quantity to form a considerable 
heap at the entrance, and very slight disturbance of the heap 
will cause desertion. Indeed, the Lyrie is not at all a bird 
that will bear to be much interfered with. It is almost certain 
to forsake the nest if it be taken out, even though it will 
return for the moment, creeping back into the hole ^ 
little uncertain fiiittering, seemingly quite bewildered when 
tossed up in the air. 
“ In handling the Shearwater, one need be very cautious, as 
it has the habit of ejecting from the mouth a quantity of clear 
thin oil, fishy and disagreeable enough, it is true, but by no 
means the abominably offensive stuff described by authors. 
On several occasions I have found in the stomach of this bud 
the jaws of a small species of cuttle fish, vouched for as such 
by Mr. (Iwyn Jeffreys himself, together with a small quantity 
of comminuted seaweed, and some green vegetable fibie. 
cuttle-fish jaws have been found by me also in the stomach of 
the Fulmar Petrel.” 
A note by Mr. Drake, of Cardiff, is interesting, as showing 
the way in which the bird behaves when suddenly taken from 
its burrow: — “The Shearwater brought out was a beautiful 
bird, delightfully sleek and clean, with the charm and mystery 
of unfamiliar nature about it. None of the Shearwaters 
vomited the abominable oil which Petrels will sometimes emit. 
It was thrown up into the air, but bungled its restoration to 
