NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BELL ROCK. 83 



of the cod family, but as they were full grown, fishermen 

 attributed this to old age, but this was certainly not the case 

 with our catch, it being but half grown. 



I often wonder if any one has noticed the following 

 peculiarity. When fish show an unusual tenacity of life, 

 that is, after being gutted and cleaned, exhibit strong mus- 

 cular action for some time after, that this phenomenon in- 

 variably precedes a change of some kind in the weather, 

 usually more wind or heavier sea. This at least is my ex- 

 perience from several years' observations. 



The remaining patches of white whelk ova now appear 

 flaccid and empty. Brushing the hand over the apparently 

 empty capsules, a granular deposit adheres to the skin, which 

 on close examination is seen to be minute whelks. Even 

 with the aid of the lens the sulci or furrow, through which 

 boring operations are conducted, is not yet apparent, but 

 which later is common to this species. The rocks at present 

 are thickly sewn with these juveniles, and myriads of adults 

 are busy clearing the rocks of barnacles and immature mussels. 

 As late as 28th July a solitary paidle-cock was seen guarding 

 its nest ; this is unusually late, as they are generally finished 

 nursing by the end of June. 



The middle of July brought us our first young tern, and 

 towards the close of the month several were in attendance. 

 A large school of bottle-nose whales crossed the reef on the 

 last Sunday of July, their puffing and blowing being quite 

 audible as they headed north, probably after herring. 



Pleasure steamers from Dundee have been frequently 

 round the Rock during June and July, some of the trippers 

 evidently enjoying the sail, others emphatically not. One 

 of the passengers, as the steamer got to windward of us, 

 favoured us with a cornet solo, which we gratefully acknow- 

 ledged with a dip of our flag. On several evenings an hour's 

 fishing was given the passengers, but their catches could scarcely 

 be expected to have any appreciable influence on the market. 

 Broken weather, excessive rain, with occasional thunderstorms, 

 describes the weather we have been having, the seasonable days 

 of sunshine and warmth being few and far between. 



