KONG The Birds of Pembrokeshevre. 
landing-place, the other giving a picturesque view of some of the 
Gannets ; the island seen to the right is merely the small rock, 
mentioned above, that is submerged at high water. 
Skomer, Danish, ‘‘ The Rocky.” 
Although not so gaily decked with flowers as Ramsey, Skomer is, 
to the ornithologist, the most interesting of all the Pembrokeshire 
Islands, on account of the incredible number of birds resorting to it 
in the summer, probably exceeding those to be found on any other 
island of equal size off England, Scotland, or Ireland. These multi- 
tudes are mainly composed of countless Puffins and myriads of Manx 
Shearwaters, the last locally known as “ Cock/es,” from the grunting 
ery of the birds when in their holes. Skomer forms the southern 
horn of the crescent of St. Bride’s Bay and, like Ramsey, is parted 
from the mainland by a narrow sound, some two miles wide, of deep 
water, through which the tide also rushes with great force, where 
there are numerous sunken rocks, so that it is rather dangerous to 
navigate in a small boat when there Is anything like a sea, as is often 
the case. In area Skomer contains about 7oo acres. There is but 
one house upon the island, a substantial dwelling ; about 250 acres 
are in cultivation, and are excellently stocked with Partridges that, 
owing to the absence of rats, thrive well and afford good sport in the 
season. Like Ramsey, Skomer is also well supplied with numerous 
springs of beautiful water. Here and there large citadel-looking 
rocks of trap crop up, giving to the island its Danish name of 
Skomer, “The Rocky”; in their clefts numerous White Owls have 
their roosting places. Remains of an ancient occupation are visible 
in sepulchral barrows, and in the rough outlines of dwelling-places 
and enclosures. A conspicuous mark on the eastern side of the 
island is a lofty upright stone ; there are several similar ones on the 
mainland that are said to mark victories gained by Earl Harold over 
the Danes. The village of Haroldston has been supposed by some 
to take its name from such a memorial.t To reach Skomer, a boat- 
' However, the number of places in the county whose names end in the Saxon 
ton (¢own), make it probable that Haroldston is only one of them. 
