THE ROCK-BREEDING BIRDS OF THE BUTT OF LEWIS 69 



May, and at the same time collecting feathers for a second 

 nest. 



Ring-Plovers breed at several places in our area. One 

 nest was found on pasture land about 400 yards from the 

 shore on 24th May. It then contained three eggs, another 

 was deposited later, and the first chick was seen partly out 

 of the egg on the evening of the iQth June, and by next 

 forenoon they had all scuttled out of sight. We knew from 

 the excited proceedings of the parent birds that the young 

 were safe in the vicinity, but a search among the pebbles 

 where they were hiding was unsuccessful. Nests of the Eiders, 

 Sheldrakes, and Oyster-catchers I have not found, but as a 

 few pairs frequent the fringe of low-lying rocks at the extreme 

 S.W. of our area, 1 and are usually seen with a following in 

 the autumn, we may safely include them among our shore 

 breeders. 



Petrels are caught every year on the lantern during the 

 breeding season. On the morning of I2th August a Manx 

 Shearwater struck the lantern heavily and was killed. 

 Searchings in likely places, and frequent watching in the 

 gloamings have, as yet, failed to locate a nesting place, 

 though I am convinced this species breeds somewhere 

 near. 



Common Guillemots and Puffins were seen resting on the 

 rocks this summer. Flocks of them, and also Razorbills, are 

 often seen passing, but none of them breed. I have not 

 observed Cormorants breeding here though a few are seen 

 during the winter. 



Gannets never rest here. They pass in thousands from 

 March to October. One can understand the passing S.W. 

 in spring of continuous flocks when they are probably 

 resorting to their usual breeding haunts, but why the majority 

 should pass daily in a S.W. direction during the summer is 

 a puzzling question, which I would like more particularly 

 to study another yeatv Evidently they must make a 

 circular tour, when coming to the Minch to fish, going empty 

 through the Sounds and coming up the Minch replete. 



1 ["Area" not defined, I think. J. A. H. -11] 



- [Following the herrings, and then the mackerel "schools." Gannets 

 return W. to E. through the Pentland Firth and follow the herring, or go to 

 meet the herrings in Shetland. See earlier Migration Reports. J.A.H.-B.] 



