JUNE 1901. 



A HEAVY, pounding, nor'-east swell in the early part of 

 this month has almost denuded the higher portions of the 

 Rock of the young vegetation, the tangles being as cleanly 

 cut as if by a reaper. The paidle-cocks' nests also suffered, 

 as not a vestige of them was left. Several cocks have been 

 seen wandering aimlessly about, their occupation evidently 

 gone. 



On the afternoon of the 14th we had a heavy shower of 

 hail, accompanied with loud peals of thunder ; but on the 

 whole the month has been fairly good. At high water on 

 several days the Rock was literally black with poddlies 

 feeding on young sand eels, half-a-dozen terns and several 

 small gulls joining in the feast, while a number of gannets 

 kept wheeling and diving in the vicinity, evidently picking 

 up a decent living. The continual splashing of the fish in 

 pursuit of their prey could be distinctly heard by us through 

 our open window while lying in bed. Strange to say, our 

 efforts to " take in " a few of them met with but little success ; 

 probably the sufficiency of eels was the cause of their ignoring 

 our questionable lure. The few that we caught were choke 

 full of eels, several of which were disgorged in our doorway 

 still alive. 



On the 4th of the month we had a visit from a carrier 

 pigeon, which had evidently strayed in the haze. It carried 

 no message, but was stamped on the wing, and had a 

 numbered rubber ring on its leg. After feeding, it was 

 liberated next morning, with a message attached. We 

 occasionally have similar visitors. Last year one of them 

 landed home in Warwickshire the owner thanking us and 

 enclosing a consideration for our kindness to the bird. 



