NOTES ON THE MAMMALS AND BIRDS OF ROUSAY. 75 



Puffin (Fratercula arctica). Common in the breed- 

 ing season, placing their eggs far into holes and 

 •crevices of the rocks, at the entrances to ^vhich, if 

 the ledges afford a foothold, the old birds are to be 

 seen sitting, looking x^reternaturally solemn, twisting 

 their heads about from side to side as one looks over 

 the top of the rocks at them : they are indeed 

 comical birds to look at. As soon as the young 

 leave the rocks, the Puffins, like the other rock- 

 birds, disappear almost entirely, a few still occurring 

 about the islands. V]y to the time of leaving the 

 cliffs the Puffins retain the large bill-sheath, which 

 is said by Bureau to be shed in the autumn. 



Steganopodes. 



Fain. PellcanidcB. 



Gannet fSula Bas.sanaJ. Found more or less 

 throughout the year, except in June and mid-winter* 

 along the coast. When a strong gale was blowing 

 outside, the Gannets used to come into the calm 

 waters of the firths until the weather got more 

 settled. Gannets can be distinguished at a long dis- 

 tance off from Gulls, not only by their flight, but by 

 their very white apj)earance. Nearly all those 1 saw 

 were adults. 



Cormorant {PhaJacrocorax Carho). Resident, though 

 not nearly so nvimerous as the Shag, with which 

 species they do not mix much, nor do they herd 

 together as that bird does. 



In Dresser's Birds of Eiwope a Cormorant is figured 

 in winter plumage, with the white thigh-x3atch. This 

 I have never observed except in the spring and early 

 summer, nor do I think it can be usual for them to 

 retain it the year round. 



Shag (Phalacrocora.v cristatus). Resident and very 

 abundant, breeding in all the cliffs round the coast. 

 Their nests are composed of sea-weed, which they 

 dive for, and they may be seen carrying it to their 

 nests at all hours of the day. They are very tame 



