<50 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



MauaiL i^laiul. at the mouth of the Bay of Fuiidy. Another lies 

 to the south-west of Yanuoutli, N()\a Scotia. The yreat breeding 

 resorts of the species, however, are tlie Bird Rocks, in tlic (Tiilf of St. 

 Lawrence, and Bonaventure Ishind, near (iasjie. 



This bird takes its name (Sn/n //(isKtrini) from one of its first and 

 best known breeding places, the Bass Rock, in the Firth of Forth, 

 where I have seen them in thousands engaged in completing their 

 domestic arrangements in the early summer. They used to have 

 man}' breeding places round the rock}'^ coasts of Scotland, but Mr. 

 Gray tells us that the number has now been reduced to five. These 

 are Ailsa Craig, St. Kilda, North Barra, Stack of Suleskerry, and the 

 Bass Rock, Firth of Forth. The numV)er of birds which frecjuent 

 these places is still very great. A moderate calculation of those seen 

 on the Bass Rock Mr. Gray placed at 20,000, anfl I feel sure that 

 the numlier fre(iuenting Ailsa Craig cannot be much less. Mr. Gray 

 further states, that on the more remote breeding places very little 

 •change has taken place, ])ut that on the Bass Rock, where in former 

 years a large colony harl ])ossession of the grassy slopes on which they 

 built their nests, the nuniluM- of l)irds is greatly I'educed. The intru- 

 sion of visitors has dri\en tlie birds entirely to the rock}' ledges on 

 the west side of the island, where the nests cannot be examined as 

 they used to be. Before this change took place in their breeding 

 grounds, the birds were greatly changed in their habits, the old birds 

 having become dreadfully vociferous, and in some cases showing fight. 

 Professor Macgillivray well describes their cry in com))aiing the tor- 

 rent f)f sountls to the words, "Kirra kirra, cree cree, grog, grog, grog."" 

 Surrounded by a multitufle of open bills, and noticing the guide 

 appai-ently absorl)ed in thought, he inquired, " Is there any risk of 

 them biting?" "Oh, no, sir," he rejoined, "I was only thinking how 

 like they are to ourseVs." He stated also that these birds sometimes 

 lay two eggs, fourteen nests on the grassy slope already referred to 

 having been found to contain that number. This statement may be 

 easily believed, when we are told that during the breeding season the 

 rock is visited daily by excursionists accompanied by guides, and that 

 the number of eggs in a nest is made to suit the wishes of the visitor. 



Notwithstanding the protection now afforded to this bird, in com- 

 mon witii other watei-fowl, the numbers have greatly diminished, 

 and it is very doiil)tful if tlie Bass ever again lias as many tenants as 

 it once had. 



Long ago the hrccding phices appear to have Ix'i n nioic ninnerous 

 x\\iin at picst-nt, for we find tV('(|ii<'nt i-efer-ence to thcni in the works 



