THE FLANNAN ISLES 259 



parent birds, who did their best to shake off their lazy 

 offspring. 



Gannet, Sula bassana. — Although observed all the 

 year round, Mr Begg informs me that only a few are 

 seen during the winter months. Soon after the middle 

 of March flocks are observed constantly passing towards 

 St Kilda. During our visit it was always common, but 

 only adult birds were seen. 



Heron, Ardea cinerea, — An occasional visitor. We 

 saw five of these birds — one on loth September, two on 

 the I ith, and one on 17th and i8th — all of them young. 

 They did not stay long, which was not surprising, for 

 the islands afford no possible feeding-grounds. 



Brent Goose, Branta bernicla. — On i6th September 

 we saw a bird of this species flying to the south-east. 



Eider Duck, Somateria mollissima. — Nests commonly 

 on some of the islands, but is not seen during winter. 

 Old and young were very numerous throughout our 

 visit. They usually formed a straggling flock, and fed 

 under the lee of the islands. Several females, accom- 

 panied by half-grown young ones, kept apart from the 

 main body. 



Corn -Crake, Crex crex. — A casual visitor. One 

 appeared on 15th September. 



Ringed Plover, ^gialitis hiaticola. — On 12th Sep- 

 tember, a single bird in immature plumage appeared, and 

 was followed by another and similar bird on the 19th. 

 The two frequented the bare patches among the sea- 

 pink on the top of the island down to the date of our 

 departure. 



Golden Plover, Charadrius pluvialis. — Occurs on 

 passage, in both spring and autumn. The first visitors 

 during the autumn of 1904 were four birds which 



