A MONTH ON THE EDDYSTONE 301 



Laridae. The occurrence of the Great Skua was 

 chronicled on 23rd September, when three examples 

 were observed during a south-east-by-south gale, and 

 sinofle birds were seen on ist and i6th October. The 

 Pomatorhine Skua was very abundant during the period 

 covered by my visit, and was much in evidence when I 

 left. Adult examples and others in melanistic plumage 

 were not uncommon. The Arctic Skua was also 

 common, but not nearly so numerous as the last-named 

 species. The abundance of these piratical birds was no 

 doubt due to the presence of vast numbers of Gulls of 

 various kinds, and that of these last, in turn, to the 

 great shoals of pilchards present in the neighbouring 

 waters of the Channel. 



Of the various species of Tern I saw but few 

 examples. This was, no doubt, due to the fact that 

 the rough water that surrounds the reefs did not 

 afford a suitable fishing- ground. Single examples of 

 the Sandwich Tern were seen on 25th and 27th 

 September. A few Common Terns passed on 22nd, 

 23rd, 27th, and 28th September. On the morning of 

 1 2th October two Arctic Terns, in the not very com- 

 monly observed second year's plumage — the 5". port- 

 landica of Ridgway — came close to the tower on their 

 way westwards. 



Storm-Petrels visited us on five occasions during very 

 unsettled weather. On 22nd September they were very 

 abundant all around during a south-east-by-south gale, 

 when many were engaged on the lee side of the tower in 

 picking up food on the surface of the water, in the shape, 

 I am inclined to think, of small particles of fatty matter 

 from our refuse bucket. It was singular that except on 

 these "dirty" days, no birds of this species were observed 



