BIRDS OF SHETLAND 



These birds nest everywhere on the islands and 

 in the heather, and may be watched on any 

 summer evening, together with the mergansers, 

 conducting their tiny flotillas in and out of the 

 reed-beds. Often as one fishes on some lonely 

 loch amidst the hills, the beating of the wild 

 duck's wings as it goes by over-head in the gloom 

 is the only sound which breaks the still night air. 



In the Shetlands, a tree is a thing hardly known. 

 Many of the inhabitants have never seen one. 

 On one occasion, the writer was invited to inspect 

 a curious natural phenomenon of this order, but 

 after a weary journey of some miles, it turned out 

 to be merely a stunted willow or juniper of some 

 two or three feet in height. No wonder if in this 

 land, bare of coppice and woodland, the smaller 

 passerines are conspicuous by their absence. 



But if Shetland has no attractions for finch and 

 warbler, it is a veritable paradise for the sea-bird. 

 The greater part of the coast-line is broken into 

 rocky harbours, where the sea-fowl may take 

 refuge from the beating surf. On every hand 

 splintered cliffs arise, offering innumerable ledges 

 for cormorants, guillemots, and kittiwakes. The 

 voes are well-nigh land-locked and are dotted 

 with innumerable islets and grassy holms, afford- 

 ing admirable nesting-places for great and lesser 

 black-backs, herring gulls and terns; and every- 

 where shingly beaches and sandy stretches may 

 be found suitable for the ringed plover, oyster- 

 catcher, and other shore-loving species. 



F0UI.A. 

 This island is in many respects one of the 

 most noteworthy breeding stations in the world. 

 Shut off from the mainland by 20 miles of tur- 

 bulent ocean, its three irregular mountain peaks 

 stand clear against the sky, forming a land-mark 



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