714 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, i889. 



In 1597 Charles Leigh wrote that '"'the three Islands of Birds are 

 sandy red, but with the multitude of birds upon them they looke white," 

 and even as late as the time of Audubon, the Gannets were so numer- 

 ous that the tops of the rocks seemed covered with snow. At that 

 time they were largely used for bait by the fishermen of Bryou Islaud, 

 some forty boats being supplied from this source, and some idea of 

 their abundance may be gathered from the fact that Audubon's cap- 

 tain told him that on one occasion bis boat's crew, in less than one 

 hour, killed six hundred and forty birds with no better weapons than 

 sticks. Up to 1860, however, the Gannets were sufficiently numerous 

 not only to cover the summits of the rocks, but many of the ledges 

 along the sides, and Dr. Bryant estimates that 50,000 pairs were then 

 breeding on the top of the Great Rock alone, although these figures 

 require to be discounted a little. In 1870 a writ of ejectment was served 

 on the bird tenantry occupying the summit of the Great Rock, by the 

 erection of a lighthouse, and by 1872 the Ganuets breeding there were 

 reduced to 5,000. In 1881 Mr. Brewster found the birds on the Great 

 Rock confined to the ledges along the sides, although the Little Rock 

 was still densely populated, and the total number of Gannets was esti- 

 mated at 50,000. In 1887 not a Gannet was raised on the Little Rock, 

 although a few were breeding on the little pillar of rock adjacent to it, 

 and M. Turbid placed the number of Gannets at 10,000, considering 

 this an increase over previous years. The Murres, Razorbills, and Puf- 

 fins have probably suffered somewhat less than their more conspicuous 

 comrades, although even among them the decrease must have been 

 very great. Still, their smaller size and consequent ability to breed in 

 crevices of the rock and on ledges too narrow to accommodate a bulky 

 Gannet has been of great service to them, while the Razorbill also 

 seems to be learning by experience the desirability of putting an egg 

 out of sight whenever practicable. The Puffins find safety in their 

 burrowing habits, and breed quite extensively in the decomposed sand- 

 stone at the northeastern portion of the Great Rock, as well as under 

 the overhanging, inaccessible ledges of the northern side of the Little 

 Rock. The little rocky pillar mentioned above is well occupied by 

 birds of various species, while owing to the difficulty of scaling this 

 islet, the little colony is fairly secure. From its size, the precipitous 

 nature of the sides, and the fact that only one landing lies contiguous 

 to the breeding birds, the Great Bird Rock must ever remaiu the 

 stronghold of this interesting colony of sea- fowl. The Little Rock, 

 although formerly said to be difficult, or oven impossible to scale, is 

 now easily climbed, owing to the falling of portions of rock, aud as there 

 are two places where landing is comparatively easy, the spot is much 

 resorted to by fishermen, and the birds in consequence lead a very pre- 

 carious existence. 



There is no regular division of the feathered inhabitants of the Bird 

 Rocks into large colonies according to species, the separation being 



