FAUNA AND FLORA. 33 



greater number go south. They are abundant all along the 

 islands. 



(63) Sterna longipennis, tern. 



Sterna (?), tern. 



Two or three species. They are rare during the summer, but 

 not uncommon in early spring. 



(66) Larus glaucus, burgomaster gull. Common on all the 

 islands. It is the next sea-bird to the shag to commence laying. 

 The writer has taken the eggs on the 23rd of May. By the first 

 week in June nearly all the nests contain three eggs, which is the 

 usual number laid. The egg is very palatable when the bird is not 

 feeding on strong food, like seal-meat. If, however, the burgo- 

 master feeds on the carcases of seals, etc., the yolks become dark 

 and the egg slightly strong. So long as the yolks of the eggs 

 remain light in colour, they are as good as the egg of the domestic 

 duck. 



During the breeding-season these gulls become veritable birds 

 of prey. All around their nests may be found the bones and wings 

 of scores of auks. As soon as a burgomaster discovers a little auk 

 unable to rise from the water through being too young, or through 

 its feathers having got partly water-soaked, it pursues it until the 

 little fellow is exhausted with diving, when it captures it, and flies 

 off with it in its beak. Numbers of these gulls will accompany a 

 boat when pulling round the islands or rocks, and when the guil- 

 lemots are frightened off their eggs, the burgomasters will make 

 raids and steal them, carrying them off in their beaks. 

 (68i) Larus cachinnans, Arctic herring gull. 



(69) „ canus, common gull. 



(70) „ marinus, great black-backed gull. 



(73) „ ridihundus, black-headed gull. 



(74) „ tridactylus, kittiwake gull. 



Of these gulls the kittiwake is the most plentiful ; colonies of 

 them are to be found on almost every island. About June 10 the 

 birds begin to lay. The nest is placed on ledges on the faces of the 

 cliffs. Eggs usually three. They are very good eating. 



The other gulls, though not uncommon, are not numerous. 



(74^) Stercorariiis huffoni, Buffon's skua. 



(75) „ richardsoni, Richardson's skua. 

 (75|) „ pomatorJiinus, pomarine skua. 



D 



