on the Eddijstune. 263 



of immaturity which led to birds in that plumage being 

 described as a distinct species under the name of E. port- 

 landica, came close to the tower on their way westwards. 



Storm-Petrels visited us on five occasions during unsettled 

 weather. On September 22nd they were very abundant 

 during a S.E. by S. 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. A few were seen on 

 the 6th and 8th of October during gales, and one came to 

 the lantern at 2.30 a.m. on the 16th. 



When migratory birds did not present themselves, I found 

 much to interest me in the habits of the Gulls, Gannets, 

 Shags, and Cormorants, some of which were always present 

 during the daytime. All the ordinary Gulls were observed, 

 save the Common and the Black-headed species. I noted a 

 fact regarding the food of the Herring-Gull which I have 

 not found recorded in the standard works on British Birds, 

 though it may have been elsewhere, namely, that this bird 

 feeds extensively on seaweed, especially on the kind known as 

 " sea-thongs'^ [Himanthalia lorea). Almost daily masses of 

 this and other weeds drifted past on the tide, and each patch 

 had one or more of these Gulls in attendance, busily engaged 

 in detaching suitable pieces from the long orange-brown 

 strings, which they swallowed with avidity. They often 

 squabbled among themselves for the possession of such 

 food-supplies. I never saw the Lesser Black-backs, which 

 were present in considerable numbers, pay any attention 

 whatever to these flotsam patches of weed. 



The Gannets afi^"orded special opportunities for observing 

 their habits. These birds fished round the lighthouse in 

 numbers, and with marked success, when the sea was rough 

 or its surface agitated; but when the sea was calm and its 

 surface glassy, they merely passed on their way to other 

 fishing-grounds, well knowing that it was useless to attempt 

 to capture the wily Pollack, the object of their quest, when 

 there was no ripple on the face of the waters. The best 

 fishing-grounds lay at the very edge of the reefs, and hence 



