432 THE GULL. 



ticulars relative to the habits of the birds of which we 

 are now speaking. 



The spot we allude to, is at the back of a mountain 

 near Holyhead, which terminates abruptly in a series of 

 precipices. At the foot of one of these is a small island, 

 called the South Stack, on which a light-house has been 

 erected within the last few years, well known to those who 

 navigate the Irish Channel. Upon this rock, which, before 

 the erection of the light-house, was almost inaccessible, 

 myriads of sea-fowl used to build ; but when the works 

 were commenced, in 1808, the unusual appearance of 

 persons on the island, with their noisy operation of 

 blasting, so disturbed the proceedings of the birds re- 

 cently arrived, that, with the exception of a solitary pair 

 of Gulls, the whole body, including Guillemots and 

 Razor-bills, took to flight, leaving the workmen in full 

 possession of a spot, which the birds, from time un- 

 known, had occupied by a sort of prescriptive right. 

 This solitary pair had taken post on an inaccessible ledge 

 of bare rock, in the face of a precipice, and seemed to 

 be aware, that nothing but shot or stones could dislodge 

 them. Their determined confidence in the security of 

 their stronghold, met with its due reward, orders being 

 issued that none should molest them. The consequence 

 was, that in a short time they became quite familiarized 

 to the noise and bustle, and remained until their young 

 were reared, and in a condition to shift for themselves. 



In the ensuing Spring, the same pair, as was sup- 

 posed, retook possession of their old post and strict 

 orders, as before, were given, on no account to disturb 

 them; and, as a further protection, no fire-arms were 

 allowed to be used; nor were strangers who disregarded 

 these rules to be admitted again on the island. In con- 

 sequence of a rigid attention to these humane regula- 

 tions, the same pair continued, for five successive years, 

 to visit this ledge, rearing their young, consisting gener- 

 ally of two, and never exceeding three in number. But 

 although only this single pair were observed to breed on 



