SPRING BIRD-NOTES FROM SCOTTISH ISLANDS 179 



of these sea-girt islands. A polished surface of rock, covered 

 with slippery seaweed, is the usual order of things ; and 

 this, combined with the Atlantic swell, renders them as a rule 

 sanctuaries for the birds but inaccessible to the naturalist. 



I had an unexpected find in the shape of a freshly dead 

 mole on the island, brought there probably by the Gulls, as 

 no mole could find a living in such a place. 



Seven Eider Ducks' nests were found, one with five young 

 in it ; but, generally, there were only one or two eggs, 

 several of which were on the point of hatching, showing, 

 I think, that they are probably robbed by the Gulls. 



On the 2 1st June I landed for the fourth time on North 

 Rona, not by any of the recognised landing-places, at all of 

 which there was too much swell, but nearer the big cliff on 

 the east side. By far the most abundant birds away from 

 the cliffs are the Lesser Black-backed Gulls. They are nesting 

 from one end of the island to the other ; and at this season 

 of the year, when the ground is thickly covered with Thrift, 

 make a most charming contrast with their pink and green 

 carpet. There are comparatively few Great Black-backed 

 and Herring Gulls. Though there were hundreds of 

 Fulmars on the island, there were far fewer nesting in 

 the ruined houses than usual. I attribute this to the fact that 

 two gentlemen had put up a shelter in one of the houses and 

 spent a few days there about three weeks before my visit. 

 Tame as the Fulmars are, as a rule, they probably resented 

 this interference with their domestic arrangements and the 

 fumes of tobacco, which must have been very necessary to 

 anyone sharing a house with them. (I found the remains 

 of a cigar!) I detected a Petrel in the ruined walls but 

 was unable to get at it, but at this date it was probably 

 the Fork-tailed Petrel. 



When lying on the grass, with Fulmars swooping all 

 round and over me, I noticed one bird settle on an egg, 

 between two slabs of rock at the top of the cliff, in what 

 seemed to me rather an unusual site for a Fulmar's nest. I 

 watched her for some time, and then went to look at the egg. 

 She resented my intrusion, and only rose when I could 

 almost touch her with my stick. I then found that she was 



