NESTING OF THE GANNET IN SHETLAND 251 



NESTING OF THE GANNET IN SHETLAND: AN 

 EXTENSION OF ITS BREEDING RANGE. 



By John S. Tulloch. 



The Gannet is extending its breeding range, a few birds 

 having put in an appearance on the Noiip of Noss, Bressay. 

 The first of the colonists were seen on the 7th of May, and 

 began nesting operations, four nests being constructed. I 

 hope the birds will have a good season, and this is likely, as 

 there will be fewer people to molest them, no person being 

 allowed to land without a permit from the senior naval 

 officer. In addition, all visitors must submit to be searched 

 by the watcher, if required. This right of search will be 

 very beneficial, as it will act as a great deterrent to egg- 

 collectors. I will send full particulars later. 



[An extension of the breeding range of the Gannet 

 Vv'ithin our area is indeed a most remarkable occurrence 

 in the annals of British ornithology, for time out of mind 

 it has been confined to a ^ew well-known stations. Hitherto, 

 with one notable exception, the Bass Rock, all the British 

 nesting haunts have been restricted to isles in western 

 waters ; now we have a second in the North Sea. The 

 Noup of Noss is a precipitous rock 592 ft. high, and 

 lies off the east side of Bressay, which, in turn, lies east 

 of Lerwick. Mr Tulloch's most important communication 

 did not reach us until 29th May, and was hence too late 

 for the June number of our magazine, and the July number 

 was entirely devoted to the report on ornithology. We 

 look forward with great interest to the full report he 

 kindly promises to send us for publication. — Eds.] 



