Of late years two examples of this Petrel have been washed up on our shores. The Salvages are the nearest breeding haunts of this species, but it is also found in the south seas.
The crown, nape, and patch behind the eye are slate grey; upper parts grey; wing coverts brown; quills blackish. Tail black; under parts white tinged with grey on the flanks. Length 7·75 in.; wing 6·25 in.
THE GREAT SHEARWATER
Puffinus gravis, O’Reilly
This species is a fairly regular summer visitor to the waters round our coasts, but it does not often approach the land.
Nothing is known of its breeding haunts, which are probably in the Antarctic seas.
The upper parts are ash brown, mottled with white on the upper tail coverts. Under parts white, sometimes brownish on the belly. Legs pinkish. Length 19 in.; wing 12·7 in.
THE SOOTY SHEARWATER
Puffinus griseus (J. F. Gmelin)
This species visits us yearly but is much scarcer than the Great Shearwater.
Its only known nesting haunts are in Chatham Islands and others near New Zealand, but the birds which visit us probably nest in the South Atlantic.
The whole of the plumage is brown, rather greyer below and more mottled. Legs blackish outside, lilac grey within. Length 18 in.; wing 12 in.