84 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



ARCTIC TERN (Sterna macrura], A few appear annually off the 

 islands in June, but do not remain to nest. We did not 

 see this bird, nor did any other species of Tern come under 

 our notice. 



GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Lants marinus). About two pairs 

 are resident on Kilean Mhor and nest there ; and a few are also 

 to be found on the other islands during the summer months. 



During our stay both old and young were seen daily in some 

 numbers. 



LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus fuscus). Does not nest on the 



main island, but is often seen there during the summer months. 



Mr. Harvie-Brown found a colony on Eilean Tigh, in June, 1881. 



This species had practically left the islands before our visit, 



for only one adult and a few young birds came under notice. 



HKRRING GULL (Larus argentatus). About six pairs only breed on 

 Eilean Mhor, but many resort to the other and more secluded 

 islands of the group. A party consisting of about a score birds 

 was present during our sojourn and remain on Eilean Mhor 

 throughout the winter, being attracted by the refuse thrown out 

 from the lighthouse. 



KITTIWAKE (Rissa tridadyla). The commonest Gull during the 

 nesting season. They arrive in great numbers at their breeding 

 cliffs late in February, and evidently depart early in the autumn, 

 for we did not observe a single adult example during our visit, 

 but a few in first plumage were present. 



RICHARDSON'S SKUA (Stercorarius crcpidatns]. Two observed on the 

 28th of August 1903 are the only birds recorded. 



RAZORBILL (Alca fordo). Thousands of these birds haunt the cliffs 

 during the nesting season. They arrive late in February or in 

 March. We did not see the Razorbill in the vicinity of the 

 islands : all had departed before our arrival on the 6th of 

 September. 



GUILLEMOT (Una troile). Vast numbers make their homes in the 

 cliffs during spring and summer, arriving from the middle to 

 the end of February. They had quitted their breeding haunts 

 before our visit, and we only saw old birds accompanied by 

 their full-grown young at some distance from the islands on the 

 occasions of our arrival and departure. 



BLACK GUILLEMOT (Uria grylle). This characteristic West Coast 

 species thins out in the Hebrides, and we have no evidence, 

 as yet, that it breeds on any of the Flannan Islands. It is 

 possible, however, that a few do, and that they have escaped 

 notice among the vast crowds of rock birds present during the 

 summer. We observed odd birds, sometimes a pair, close to 

 the base of the cliffs of Eilean Mhor on several occasions. 



