SULE SKERRY, ORKNEY, AND ITS BIRD-LIFE 97 



was on the look-out for anything that might come. 

 About 10 o'clock I got a Garden Warbler, and very 

 shortly after I heard a gentle knock on the window. 

 From the inside I could see another Warbler lying almost 

 dead on the path outside. It was easily seen it was not 

 a Garden Warbler, but after handling it and comparing 

 it with the description of other Warblers, I was unable to 

 name it. So I preserved it in methylated spirits, and 

 despatched it to Mr. Eagle Clarke on 6th October. He 

 identified it as the Greenish Willow Warbler, an adult 

 male, in brilliant plumage. This is the first recorded 

 occurrence in Scotland, and the second for the British 

 Isles. ("Annals," 1903, p. 22). 



The Solan, or Gannet (Snla bassanci}, deserves to be 

 classed as a Sule Skerry bird, though its haunt is on the 

 Stack, four miles distant. Every year one or two land on 

 the Skerry to die, apparently from sheer old age. I never 

 saw one alight on the island when in full health and strength. 

 Those that do rest are quite unable to fly, and generally die 

 in three or four days. Early in the year they begin to 

 assemble in the vicinity, and in March crowds are seen 

 ashore on the Stack. From then on till September the rock 

 is simply covered from the water edge to summit, and 

 thousands continually on the wing going to and returning 

 from fishing. In September they begin to diminish in 

 numbers, and gradually decrease during October and 

 November. Very few are seen in December. 



At one time Sule Skerry was the home of thousands of 

 seals, but when man took possession of it they gradually 

 left for other localities where they are less likely to be dis- 

 turbed. The first winter we were there from 50 to 60 were 

 still resident, and landed almost every day on outlying points. 

 When they were the sole inhabitants they wandered all over 

 the island, and there were distinct tracks in all directions 

 showing that when travelling from one place to another they 

 were in the habit of keeping to one road or track. These 

 tracks were deep hollows worn down through the grass and 

 even into the ground, leading to and from accessible places 

 from the sea. The female lands in October and November 

 to give birth to her young, and I noticed that she always 

 50 D 



