64 Mr John MacGillivray on the Island of St Kilda. 
surface of the wave at a slight elevation, though I never ob- 
served one to alight or pick up any thing from the water.* 
It is partially a nocturnal bird, for I seldom observed it at any 
distance from St Kilda except during the evening and about 
daybreak ; at the latter time, always flying in the direction of 
St Kilda, as if hastening homewards. I have also, on one or 
two occasions, when at sea, engaged in cod-fishing to the west- 
ward of the Harris islands, in very gloomy and rainy weather, 
observed a few fulmars flying about the boat, probably at- 
tracted by the fish we had caught. At its breeding-places, 
however, the fulmar is always in motion, comparatively few 
being to be seen upon the rocks, the great mass being en- 
gaged flying in circles along the face of the precipice, and al- 
ways in the same direction, none crossing, probably on account 
of the confusion this would cause among such an immense mul- 
titude. I never observed them utter any cry when thus en- 
gaged, or even when their nests were being robbed. The ful- 
mar does not allow itself to be handled with impunity, but de- 
fends itself with its powerful bill, which it can use with as 
much effect as good will. 
Phalacrocoraz Carbo and cristatus, the common and crest- 
ed cormorants ( Xarbh-buill and Xarbh-beg), are both found 
in St Kilda, the latter in great numbers. Their eggs are ex- 
tremely nauseous, and even the natives hold them in little 
esteem. They nestle in the numerous caves and recesses 
throughout the group, seldom ; however, breeding at any great 
height above the water, into which they drop like a stone when 
alarmed by man, which they seldom are, allowing him to ap- 
proach within a very few feet. a 
The gannet, or solan goose, Sula alba, (An Sulair), is to 
be seen in vast numbers about St Kilda, from whence a por- 
tion of them take their departure every morning to fish in the 
bays and channels of the other Hebrides, the nearest of which 
is about 50 miles distant. I have even seen them in Dunve- 
gan Loch, in the Isle of Skye, about 90 miles from St Kilda, 
* Several which I dissected had the stomach filled with pure oil, mixed up 
with the indigestible horny mandibles of some of the Sepiade, which, we 
may conclude, form their principal food. 
