308 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



and sheep of the inhabitants. There are, however, 

 several shallow, verdant depressions, down which, no 

 doubt, tiny streams may find their way to the sea during 

 the winter rains. Some corn is grown, and whins 

 flourish in compounds erected for their protection, for 

 these shrubs form an important item of fuel. There are 

 a few trees of small size in one or two of the gardens at 

 Lampaul, the chief hamlet, which lies at the head of the 

 Bale de Porspaul. 



The west coast is exposed to the full force of the 

 Atlantic, and by the fury of the waves the numerous 

 more or less lofty rocks that stud the shore and the 

 irregular face of its cliffs have been carved and trans- 

 formed into all manner of remarkable and fantastic 

 forms. Indeed, the rock-scenery on the west coast is 

 wild and weird in the extreme. 



Geologically, the island is composed of foliated 

 granite. This rock in weathering does not form ledges, 

 and this, in a measure, may account for the absence of 

 breeding-stations of sea-fowl on the sheltered eastern 

 cliffs ; those on the north and west are storm-swept even 

 in summer, and are consequently not available. 



Just off Ushant lie many hundreds of islets and 

 rocks, only a few of which are of considerable size, but 

 none of them appear to be tenanted during the breeding- 

 season by Gulls, Terns, or other marine species. On the 

 large island of Balance, which lies some 5 miles south-east 

 of Ushant, many " Hirondelles de Mer," " Perroqaets de 

 Mer," '' Goelands," etc., rear their young — at least so we 

 were informed. 



The island has the surprisingly large population of 

 over two thousand inhabitants. All the men are 

 engaged in the lobster-fishery and appeared to be 



