GRASHOLM ISLAND 59 



Willughby having been at St. David's in June, 1662, on 

 one of their Itineraries, and not mentioning this Gannetry, 

 is really of no weight, for they are equally silent about 

 Lundy Island and Ailsa Craig, and, indeed, their minds seem 

 to have been more occupied with botany than birds. 



With regard to its bird population, in 1886 Mr. M. D. 

 Propert assessed the Grasholm community of Gannets at 

 500, and in 1893 Mr. Robert Drane, of Cardiff, considered 

 there were about 240 nests,* which would mean nearly 600 

 Gannets. Doubtless the number is not always the same, 

 and I am disposed only to reckon it at 400 in 1903, yet it 

 is probable from what Mr. Neale says that, like the Irish 

 Gannetry to be next mentioned, it has increased since then.f 



For a very good account of the Birds of Grasholm, origin- 

 ally spelt Grasse {i.e., grass) Holme, | see an article by Mr. 



* "Cardiff Naturalists' Soc. Tr.," 1893-4, p. 7. Mr. Drane's estimate is 

 confirmed by Mr. C. Jefferys {in lift). 



f Besides Gannets, there used to be immense numbers of Puffins (but 

 Mr. Drane says they have now nearly deserted the place) and a fair 

 quantity of Guillemots and Kittiwake Gulls breeding on Grasholm. Mr. 

 Drane also found the Turtle Dove breeding there, which is the more 

 remarkable because there is not a tree or bush on the island, nor any 

 fresh water, in lieu of bushes he thinks the Turtle Doves use Puffin holes, 

 which he saw them enter. Formerly, he adds, there was hardly a plant 

 of grass upon Grasholm, for the Puffins had so mined its shallow soil that 

 it gave way at every footstep, and was so dry that nothing but the Tree 

 Mallow and an Atriplex, with a few marine plants, grew upon it. 

 + Leland, "Itinerary,' XXVII. 



