CHAPTER VI 



WITH THE SEA BIRDS AT TENBY 



LAST year (1902), at the end of May, we had the good 

 fortune to visit an island or two off the Pembrokeshire 

 coast, close to Tenby. 



Here many varieties of Sea-fowl do congregate on 

 the cliffs of the mainland as well as on those of the 

 islands. On May 27th that keen naturalist, Mr. 

 Williams-Vaughan, Mr. Alexander, and ourselves, 

 as well as two boatmen, start for St. Margaret's, a 

 small island some two-and-half miles from the 

 mainland. 



Not much bird life is noticeable on the way out, 

 though from time to time we see a few Kittiwakes, 

 chiefly in immature plumage, and these birds have no 

 intention of breeding this season, for no Gulls indulge 

 in marriage till they acquire mature plumage, which 

 is not attained till they have seen at least three 

 summers from the date of their being hatched. 



We now get a look at a few Guillemots and an 

 odd Razorbill or two, floating all unconscious of 

 danger on the vast bosom of the Atlantic, which 

 dashes unceasingly against the rugged headlands, 



