Lord Lilford^s Cruise in the Mediterranean. 29 



Shags, the latter birds forming a sort of fringe to the little 

 rock called Vitello (the calf), some hundred yards to the 

 north-east of Vacca, and connected with it by a reef of rocks 

 just awash, with two or three channels through them prac- 

 ticable for a boat. We landed the doctor and one of our 

 boat's crew in a cleft of the eastern side, which extends at a 

 very acute angle from the sea to the summit. We soon 

 bagged four specimens of Falco eleanora, which, though they 

 flew high, were not particularly wary. I very much regret 

 that, owing to our feeble climbing-power, we lost three or 

 four more of this beautiful and singular species. Several of 

 the Greater Shearwater were caught on their single e^^, 

 under the masses of debris in the aforesaid cleft ; and I had 

 some fun with the Rock-Doves, of which we saw great 

 numbers. The common Smfts also were breeding in force 

 amongst the low rocks at the north-eastern end ; and Herring- 

 Gulls and Shags innumerable enlivened the scene, which, in 

 spite of the black and Aveird appearance of the island, was, as 

 will be readily imagined, one of intense interest to an orni- 

 thologist. Dusk came on; and we went off to the yacht 

 delighted with our success, and hoping for more, A large 

 seal {Phoca monacha) showed his smooth shining head once 

 or twice, at a safe distance ; it is not impossible he may have 

 recognized the white ensign from a previous acquaintance 

 with Lord Nelson and his squadron, as the Bay of Palmas 

 (or San Antioco), hard by, was one of our admiral's favourite 

 anchorages. 



The wind being still ahead for Port Mahon, we ran into 

 a sandy bay on the western side of the gulf, and anchored for 

 the night in about ten fathoms. 



We paid another morning visit to Vacca the next day, 

 leaving the yacht about 6 a.m., and taking with us some 

 volunteers of the crew to explore the island. We only shot 

 one of the Falcons ; but the men brought off several dozens 

 of the eggs of the Herring-Gull [Larus leucophceus) , and seven 

 Cinereous Shearwaters with twelve eggs. We had seen vast 

 numbers of this species on the water on our way to Vacca in 

 the morning, with a good many of the smaller species, biit 



