2I 4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



opening being very narrow, daylight cannot be seen from 

 below, and, bending almost double, one has to feel one's way 

 in comparative darkness for the first few yards. It is more- 

 over extremely slippery, but the actual landing is less risky 

 in a swell than jumping on to wet sea- weed at the mouth of 

 the cave. 



A great change had taken place amongst the birds since 

 my visit in July. The Guillemots, Razorbills, Eider Ducks, 

 and Terns had all gone. A few Puffins remained and a good 

 many Kittiwakes and Fulmars. Some of the young Fulmars 

 had not yet left the nest. Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls 

 were still very numerous, Herring Gulls had increased, and a 

 few pairs of Oystercatchers were still about. In place of 

 the departed breeding birds there had been a great 

 immigration of Wheatears, Meadow Pipits, White Wagtails, 

 and Waders. I think that the Rock Pipits had also 

 increased. There must have been hundreds of Meadow 

 Pipits and Wheatears on the island, and as I suspected the 

 latter of belonging to the larger race I shot one. The wing 

 measured 99 mm. White Wagtails, though not so abundant, 

 were there in great numbers. A large flock of Curlews 

 (upwards of 50) arrived whilst I was on the island, and I also 

 saw a flock of Starlings. Many of the little spray pools 

 were tenanted by Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Redshanks, and 

 Turnstones, and a solitary Heron flapped slowly away as I 

 landed. I also put up a Snipe. 



The Great Grey Seal was very much in evidence in the 

 bays. Some of them appeared to be huge animals. It is 

 a splendid place for watching them, as, when the boat has 

 gone back to the yacht and all is quiet, they show up at 

 the mouth of the cave only some forty feet directly below 

 one in perfectly clear water. 



The horrible modern tombstone erected to the memory 

 of the last two inhabitants who died there in 1887, and 

 placed in the little chapel -yard amongst the old locally 

 carved stone crosses, had been re-whitewashed. If ever I 

 commit sacrilege it will be here. 



I had hoped to return to Rona the following day, but 

 " the best laid schemes o' mice and men gang aft agley," and 

 an easterly gale compelled me to go southwards instead. 



