274 The Irish Nahiralist. [Oct., 



spring, which now and again coming closer to its parent, 

 kept crying for food. We tried to capture several, but in vain, 

 as on close approach the old bird alwaj^s dived, and the 

 youngster followed. I fancy if we could have separated them 

 we should have been more successful. Gulls, Terns, Cor- 

 morants, and Puffins kept crossing us as we neared the island, 

 the Puffins being easily distinguished by their massive bill. 

 Approaching the north side of the island, we could hear the 

 weird calls of the Herring Gulls, interrupted now and then by 

 the almost barking note of the Black-backed Gull. 



A boat can approach quite close to the cliffs on this side of 

 the island, the water being very deep even at low tide. The tide 

 being out left a number of rocks covered by sea-weed exposed. 

 These rocks were literally brown with young Herring Gulls, 

 seeming quite tame until nearly within grasp, when they 

 flapped away. Hearing some mysterious sounds issuing 

 from a creek, we determined to explore it. On our entry we 

 disturbed a pair of Sandpipers and a Whimbrel, which we 

 knew could not emit such sounds. The creek was towered 

 over by high cliffs covered with now empty Kittiwakes' nests. 

 Again the mysterious noises began followed by their echoes, 

 seeming at one time like the cries of young hawks, and at 

 another of something grunting and puffing. Dr. Carton first dis- 

 covered their origin. High up in the cliff on a ledge sat a couple 

 of pairs of Guillemots in a state of great excitement, turning 

 round and round, bobbing their heads, and opening and 

 flapping their wings ; on closer inspection we could see all this 

 was caused by their anxiety to hide their solitary offspring, 

 which was needless, as from their impregnable positions they 

 were quite safe from ever getting to the Zoo. 



A little further round the island, turning a promontory, we 

 came on a colony of Shags and Cormorants, some of the latter 

 with outstretched wings and open mouths sunning themselves. 

 The reason of this gaping position of the Cormorant is 

 strange, but may be due to the anatomical defect of develop- 

 ment as regards size of the nasal apertures and nasal 

 chambers peculiar to this bird, leaving it to rely on chiefly 

 oral and not nasal breathing after a long flight. 

 . These birds on seeing us, gave quite an aquatic display, 

 each having apparently its own way of getting under the 



