355 Gilmot SLENDER BILLED SHEARWATER (2) 1931 were generally very empty and those that had found anything to feed on, seem to have caught small fish or shrimp, but the remains were so well altered by gastric juices that identification was mere guess work at best. Generally the flocks on the surface took wing several hundred yards ahead of the boat but some were almost run down. Out of one of these flocks 13 specimens were obtained and the boat was right in the binch before they practically tried to escape. The noise from paddling feet and beating wings made a low roaring noise and officers on the ship state that large flocks of a thousand or so birds when they run down in a similar manner make a noise like the roaring of the surf. One such story states that the captain of a cutter, running upon such a flock in a dense fog rang "full speed astern" to the engine room, thinking he was on the surf.