SPRING BIRD-NOTES FROM SCOTTISH ISLANDS 175 



on similar cliffs, but possibly the atmosphere of Fulmar 

 is too strong for them at St Kilda. 



There are more of the cliff-breeding birds on the south 

 side of Dun than any other part of the islands that I visited, 

 but I did not go round Soay. 



The Herring Gull was the commonest of the Gulls round 

 the yacht in the bay. Some twenty Lesser Black-backed 

 Gulls followed us over from Loch Tarbert 56 miles and 

 remained a short time, but I saw no others during the 

 remainder of my visit. Though reported to have nested once 

 {Studies in Bird Migration, ii., p. 238), it is probable that, 

 when seen there on other occasions, they may have followed 

 boats in the same way. It is astonishing the distance that 

 Gulls will follow a boat. I noticed a Lesser Black-back with 

 a broken leg, which accompanied my yacht from the Fame 

 Islands for a distance of 117 miles, and possibly farther, as 

 I was unable to watch it longer. 



Two Arctic Terns were observed during my visit ; also 

 eight Turnstones, a Common Sandpiper, a Teal, Dunlin, 

 Merlin, a few Oyster-catchers, several pairs of Eider Ducks, 

 a number of Starlings, and a pair of Ravens. 



I was fortunate enough to be able to go over to Stack 

 Lii and Boreray in my launch, and, though there was rather 

 a heavy swell, was able to go very close to both islands. At 

 first we steamed along under the St Kilda cliffs and thousands 

 of Fulmars swooped round and over us on every side ; then, 

 as we turned off towards Boreray, the Fulmars thinned 

 off and the air was thick with Gannets. Apropos of the 

 destruction of fish by these birds, which is now being 

 investigated by a committee appointed by the Fishery 

 Board, it may be worth mentioning that a trawler which 

 had been fishing round Stack Lii and Boreray had made 

 such a big haul of fish that they took a rest in St Kilda 

 Bay from early Saturday afternoon to Monday morning 

 before returning home. The mate supplied the informa- 

 tion to my captain, and those who know anything of life on 

 board these trawlers will be aware that only when the fishing 

 has been exceptionally good can they afford themselves the 

 luxury of a voluntary rest both night and day. 



