NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OP THE BELL ROCK. 73 



to that of a limpet, without its tenacity, but with a somewhat 

 similar rate of progression. Another small slug noticed this 

 month no larger than one's finger nail and recalling the 

 general appearance of the "fretful porcupine," with "quills" 

 arranged along its back, and displaying beautiful shades of 

 brilliant blue and crimson. 



Saturday, IJfili. A beautiful warm sunny day, the sea like 

 glass, dappled here and there with great greasy-like patches 

 peculiar to still weather. Flocks of eiders, longtails, and gulls 

 appear to be having a day off, and float listlessly hither and 

 thither, seeming only intent on making themselves aggressively 

 audible in the stillness, the longtails piping a shrill treble to 

 the sonorous bass of the eiders, while the gulls contribute a 

 fairly good imitation of a laughing chorus. Later, the gulls 

 are seen to bestir themselves, as myriads of small circles break 

 the glassy surface in their vicinity, betraying the presence of 

 "fry," their legitimate food. Pecking from side to side as 

 they float silently through the shoal, they evidently enjoy the 

 feast thus provided for them. The sight of the gulls thus 

 engaged apparently reminds the ducks of their negligence in 

 this respect, and paddling full speed ahead, they are soon busy 

 diving in the shallower water of the reef. The longtails push 

 their way right up to the base of the tower, round which they 

 are seen circling, plucking at the green vegetation adhering to 

 the stonework, and cackling loudly as they breathe for a few 

 seconds on the surface, all unconscious of our presence on the 

 balcony a,bove them. A small piece of coal dropped while 

 they are still under water causes them to shoot away like 

 startled minnows, and only when they have put some distance 

 between them and the source of alarm do they make their 

 appearance on the surface, evidently much flustered by the 

 mysterious noise. Though a couple of fathoms deep, their 

 alarm was apparent at the same moment the coal struck the 

 surface, proving that the sound and not the appearance of the 

 falling body was the disturbing cause. The end of the month 

 still sees them in close attendance, but any day now may witness 

 their exodus. But few spring migrants have come our way this 

 month, principally a few blackbirds, thrushes, and starlings. 



