334 I III SKARGA1U). 



a melancholy foreboding to the poor fisherman of some 

 new disaster." In former times the larger of the islands 

 were well wooded, and a few, such as Oroust, are partially 

 so at the present day. But in general they are utterly 

 destitute of arborous vegetation ; though even on tin- 

 most barren of them a few stunted hushes may occasionally 

 be seen creeping forth from amongst the crevices of the 

 rock. Some of the islands have a scanty population, 

 consisting chiefly of fishermen and pilots, and are in 

 patches cultivated ; but for the most part they are only 

 tenanted by the feathered tribe, and have, on the whole, a 

 most sterile and desolate appearance. 



AVith the exception of a few partridges, hares, and a 

 Black-Cock or two on one or other of the larger islands, 

 the sportsman will find but little in the shape of game in 

 the Gothenburg and neighbouring " Skargardar " ; but 

 as a set-off he will meet with many kinds of water-fowl 

 and waders, the species, however, varying greatly ac- 

 cording to the season of the year. 



Of the aquatic birds that bred with us, I may notice 

 the following : The Great Black -backed Gull ; the 

 Lesser Black-backed Gull ; the Herring Gull ; the Com- 

 mon Gull ; the Common Tern ; the Arctic Torn ; the 

 Caspian Tern (rarely) ; the Black Tern (only occasionally) ; 

 Richardson's Skua; the .Mallard; the Teal ; the Wigeon 

 (sparingly); the Sheldrake; the Eider-Duck; the Ked- 

 breasted Merganser; the Black Guillemot; the Black and 

 the Red-throated Diver;* and I suspect the Cormorant 

 and the Shag also, for on one particular part of the coast 



* Naturalists would s.-.'iu to entertain tin' notion that the.se liinls only 

 breed on the margin of fresh water lakes ; lint Mic-h is not always tlir CMO, 

 for I myself have found tin- not of tin- Ked throated liv.-r on :m island of 

 the (Jothenliur;; Skiirfjard, :iinl Kksir.mi tells us. when speaking of the liirds 

 >f Oroust, that the l.laek throated l>i\er l>reed.- frei|iu-ntly in tin- inner 

 .:u'.ird, meaning |.rot:il>ly tin- IMV-. and inlets of tin- inaiiiland. 



