Habits of the Bock Birds of Britain, 575 



June, and are ready to take wing before July 20. Departure, 

 Stays there all the year, except the month of September, and 

 part of October. Remarks. A sure prognosticator of the 

 west wind. If it comes to land, no west wind is to be ex- 

 pected for some time ; but if it keeps at sea, or goes to sea 

 from the land, whether the wind blows from the south, north, 

 or east, or there is a perfect calm, its keeping the sea is 

 always a certain presage of an approaching west wind. 



Lavy^ or Foolish Guillemot (UVm Troile Lath.). — Arrival. 

 With a south-west wind, if fair, Feb. 20. Breeding, No 

 remark. Departure. Depends upon the inhabitants' taking 

 or leaving its first, second, or third egg. Remarks. If it stays 

 upon land for the space of three days without intermission, it 

 is a sign of southerly wind and fair weather ; but, if it goes to 

 sea before the third expires, it is then a sign of a storm. 



Falk, or Razorbill {K'tca Torda Lin,), — Arrival, No 

 remark. Breeding. Lays its egg in May ; its young take 

 wing in the middle of July. Departure, No remark. 



Solan Goose {Velecdnus Bassdnus Lin.). — Arrival, About 

 the middle of March, with a south-west wind, warm snow 

 or rain. Breeding, They continue to pluck grass for their 

 nests from their coming till the young fowl is ready to fly 

 in August or in September. Departure, According as 

 the inhabitants determine the time, i. e., by taking away or 

 leaving its first, second, or third egg. Remarks, There is a 

 tribe of barren Solan geese, which have no nests, and sit upon 

 the bare rock ; these are not the young fowls of a year old, 

 whose dark colour would soon distinguish them, but old ones, 

 in all things like the rest. 



Bowger^ or Puffin [A!lca arctica Lin.). — Arrival, With a 

 south-west wind, about March 22. Breeding, Lay their egg 

 April 22., and produce a fowl May 22., if their first egg be 

 not taken away. Departure, No remark. 



Scraber^ or Shearwater {^Procelldria PufFinus Lin.), — Ar^ 

 rival. In March, and in the nighttime, without regard to any 

 wind. Breeding, Its nest is very far under ground, whence 

 the bird never comes in daylight. Departure, Goes away in 

 August, if its first egg be spared. Remarks. It is never to 

 be seen but in the night, being all the day either abroad 

 fishing, or upon its nest. 



Assilag^ or Storm Petr^el {Procellaria peldgica Lin.). — 

 Arrival, About March 22., without any regard to winds. 

 Breeding, Produces the fowl towards the middle of October. 

 Departure, Goes away about the end of November. 



Reddag, {supposed) Kittiwake (Ldrus Rissa Lin.). — Arrival. 

 April 15., with a south-west wind. Breeding. Lays its egg 



