On the Ornithology of the Fame hlands. 163 



half-an-ounce, it quite fills a box measuring 624 cubic inches, 

 but you see that I have packed it into 12 cubic inches. I may 

 add that although the full complement of eggs had been, 

 deposited the duck h«d hardly commenced incubation, so that 

 probably the amount of down would have been nearly doubled 

 if the bird had been left undisturbed. 



During each of the last three summers a male King Eider 

 {Somateria spectabilis, Linnceus), one of the rarest of our 

 Anatidce, has been seen frequently, but as the duck of this 

 species can hardly be distinguished from the female of the 

 common Eider except at close quarters, it is impossible to say 

 whether he has been accompanied by his mate, during his 

 sojourn in such a southerly spot for this bird to frequent in the 

 summer. Its eggs properly authenticated are rare in collec- 

 tions, as its breeding haunts are in the far north. 



The only other duck that has been known to breed here is 

 the Shelduck {Tadonia vulpnnser, Flem), and this only once 

 within the last few years. It nests, however, in the rabbit 

 holes that abound amongst the long grass of the links on the 

 mainland, especially north of Bamborough, and during the 

 breeding season, the drake, in his variegated dress of black, 

 white, and chestnut, may frequently be seen in the neighbour- 

 hood of the islands. 



We now pass on to another group, sometimes called the 

 Diving and sometimes the Rock birds, and chief amongst 

 these is the Guillemot (Uria troiie, Linnccus). Mr. Seebohm 

 has written such a vivid description of his visit to their strong- 

 hold that I cannot do better than give you his account of it. 



"The breeding season is the time when the Guillemot's habits are 

 most interesting and the easiest to observe. During that period, 

 which commences in May and lasts up to August, the birds are 

 confined to certain localities — the rocky headlands and the isolated 

 rocks. Amongst the breeding-places of the Guillemot the cliffs at 

 Flamboro' and Bempton probably stand unrivalled, so far as the 

 British Islands are concerned, but I know of no place where sea-birds 

 can be studied to greater advantage than at the Fames. I have 

 visited these islands many times and every time I have been 

 more charmed than before. But very few Guillemots are to be seen 

 on the Fame Islands or the neighbouring coast during winter. The 

 lighthouse-keeper told me that they make their first appearance en 

 masse in March, visiting the " Pinnacles " about sunrise at first 

 and remaining but a very short time, disappearing out to sea again. 

 Every day they make a longer stay than on the previous one, and 

 about the beginning of May they begin to lay and then remain 

 altogether. The few Guillemots, in the opinion of the light-men, 

 seen during the winter, are not birds bred on the Pinnacles, but 

 come from the far north. On the Fame Islands there is but one 

 breeding station of these birds, the islands being naturally low, and 

 affording them but little accommodation. The first colony of birds 



