THE BIRDS OF ST KILDA 223 



7th June 1885, ^^i^<^ he gravely suggests that it may 

 breed ! ] 



Phalacrocorax carbo, Co7-morant. — Atkinson 

 (p. 224) includes this species as among those seen by 

 him in May 183 1 ; and MacGillivray (p. 64), who 

 visited St Kiida in July 1840, states that both Cormorant 

 and Shag are found. Milner (p. 2062) tells us that 

 the eggs of both the Cormorant and the Shag were 

 obtained by his party on 15th June 1847. Subsequent 

 visitors have, however, searched for it in vain as a 

 breeding bird. 



We saw a number throughout our visits, and the bird 

 is a regular winter visitor, as it is to many other insular 

 stations in which it does not breed. 



Phalacrocorax graculus. Shag. — First noted for St 

 Kilda by MacGillivray (p. 64) in 1840, and described 

 by him as being in great numbers. 



The same statement holds good at the present time ; 

 it is to be seen everywhere, except inland. 



SuLA BASSANA, Ganuet. — The British metropolis of 

 the Gannet is on the Isle of Boreray, and the adjoining 

 stacks of Lii and An Armin. Here they have come under 

 the notice of all who have written on the avifauna of the 

 islands since Martin made his memorable visit in 1697. 

 The birds were still on the ledges or summits of the 

 stations named when we surveyed them from the deck 

 of the Wamba on 8th and 12th October. A number 

 of young of the year floated, in helpless fashion, on the 

 adjoining seas. The natives of St Kilda no longer cap- 

 ture the young Gannets in the autumn for consumption 

 during the winter, and consequently the birds must 

 have increased considerably during recent years. About 

 600 adults are, however, captured in spring, for food. 



