(n.) Any one of numerous species of long-winged oceanic birds of the genus Puffinus and related genera. They are allied to the petrels, but are larger. The Manx shearwater (P. Anglorum), the dusky shearwater (P. obscurus), and the greater shearwater (P. major), are well-known species of the North Atlantic. See Hagdon.
Example Sentences:
(1) The results indicate that poxvirus infection produces a mild, self-limiting disease in shearwaters and is not the cause of puffinosis.
(2) Extensive tests confirmed that the neuraminidase of the shearwater virus was not related antigenically to any known neuraminidase.
(3) Photograph: AP Marine biologist Jennifer Lavers told the first day of the inquiry in Sydney on Thursday that she discovered more than one in 10 young flesh-footed shearwater birds – common visitors to Australian coasts – were dying from ingesting plastic or from plastic chemical contamination.
(4) The sera collected from pelagic birds nesting on islands in the Capricorn-Bunker group in 1970 were devoid of any antibodies to the shearwater virus, while a high proportion of the sera collected from birds on the same islands in 1972 (one year after the isolation of the shearwater virus) had antibodies to the haemagglutinin and neuraminidase of the shearwater virus, some to a high titre.
(5) In the Manx shearwater, it is found that this novel area projects visually into the binocular field below the bill.
(6) Seal lions, sharks and shearwaters are also in the region, although BP says only the shearwaters will be in the vicinity of the drilling sites, located around 300km off the South Australian coast.
(7) Its application, in this paper, concerns the bones of skull and mandibles of Cory's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea borealis) and Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos).
(8) The retinal ganglion cells in five species (Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus, Kerguelen petrel, Pterodroma brevirostris, great shearwater, Puffinus gravis, broad-billed prion, Pachyptila vittata, and common diving petrel, Pelecanoides urinatrix) were examined by Nissl staining and also by silver staining in the case of the common diving petrel.
(9) Thus, the shearwater virus appeared to have only recently been introduced into the area from where it was isolated.
(10) The Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus, is a pelagic sea bird which feeds from the surface of the sea and by shallow surface and plunge dives.
(11) Some species of albatross and shearwaters seem to be the most prone to eating plastic pieces.
(12) The shearwater eye has a shorter focal length and higher maximum image brightness, and the ratio of corneal:lens refractive power equals 0.4 and 1.6 in pigeon and shearwater eyes, respectively.
(13) During studies on the etiology of puffinosis, a disease of the Manx shearwater, 1 to 4% of full-grown birds were found to have dry, non-pigmented lesions on the webs of the feet.
(14) The mites are known from shearwaters (Procellaridae) and stormpetrels (Hydrobatidae); host associations are discussed.
(15) Comparison with the reported growth of other species revealed a number of similarities between the embryos of the semi-precocial shearwater and the precocial domestic fowl, together with several differences between the shearwater and the altricial pigeon embryo.
(16) Drowning in plastic Read more Hardesty said she had seen an entire glowstick and three balloons in a single short-tailed shearwater bird.
(17) A schematic model of the shearwater eye's optical system is presented, together with reanalysed data on the optical structure in the eye of the pigeon, Columba livia.
(18) Poxvirus infection was not apparent in shearwater fledglings during puffinosis epizootics, and its spatial distribution was not related to that of puffinosis.
(19) The surface antigens of the virus responsible for this epidemic have not so far been identified.Observations suggest that avian influenza may be common in wild birds and the finding of antibody to an antigen of human influenza virus in shearwaters is consistent with the idea that human influenza pandemics may originate from avian or animal reservoirs.
(20) The mononuclear retinal field of the Manx shearwater eye is 148 degrees wide and is asymmetric with respect to the optic axis.
Sheerwater
Definition:
(n.) The shearwater.
Example Sentences:
(1) We spend another day on the water, this time on the MV Sheerwater, a ferry from Arisaig to the archipelago of Eigg, Rum, Canna and Muck.
(2) (01397 701 515; easydrivescotland.co.uk ).Sheerwater Wildlife Cruises ( arisaig.co.uk ) has return fares from Arisaig to Eigg for £18.