Lord Lilford^s Cruise in the Mediterranean. 27 



very strong head wind and heavy sea^ so ran back and an- 

 chored again in the north-west corner of the Bay of Cagliari, 

 where we rolled heavily all night, and sailed at daybreak on 

 the 24th, with light puffs of wind from all quarters, and a 

 beautiful bright sunny morning. On rounding Cape Sparti- 

 vento we met a fresh contrary breeze, so ran in and anchored 

 in smooth water close to the Isola Rossa, in the Bay of Teu- 

 lada, where we found a Neapolitan brigantine weather-bound, 

 full of passengers for Bona and Algiers. About the island, 

 which is perhaps barely a mile in circumference, and over- 

 grown with thick scrub, except on the north-eastern side, 

 where it is precipitous, we noticed a great number of Shags 

 (Carbo desmaresti), a Falcon, some Kestrels, myriads of 

 Alpine and common Swifts, and a good many Rock-Doves ; 

 but it was Sunday, and we waited anxiously for morning. 

 During the night I heard strange moaning sounds from the 

 rocky end of the island, which I was inclined to think pro- 

 ceeded from seals; but I afterwards found that they were 

 caused by the conversation of Shearwaters [Puffinus cinereus), 

 of which birds we had seen many as we came round from 

 Cagliari, but none in the immediate vicinity of the island. 

 The next morning we were astir at daybreak, got our anchor ; 

 and whilst the yacht stood off and on, the doctor and I went 

 off in the cutter to explore the island. We landed the doctor 

 and one of the crew ; and I cruised round under the rocks in 

 the boat. The sea was positively alive with Shags, old and 

 young ; but I did not observe a single specimen of the Cor- 

 morant, which is common and breeds near Cagliari. Every 

 now and then a small party of Rock-Doves would dash past 

 us, or out of some crevice in the rocks, and give me a real 

 sporting shot. The Shags, many of which were unable to 

 fly, gave us some long chases ; but though I might have shot 

 a great number, and did bag as many specimens as I required, 

 we could not succeed in hunting down a young one alive. 

 We saw a few still in their nests ; but although two of om* 

 crew managed to get within a few feet of them, they could 

 not get quite at them, and the youngsters refused to move. 

 In the crevices of the rocks on the north side of the island a 



