NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OP THE BELL ROCK. 85 



Amateur fishers have been but seldom in evidence here 

 this summer ; even the lobsters have enjoyed a season of com- 

 parative rest. Possibly the uncertain state of the weather 

 prevented their usual visits. Towards the close of the month 

 a trio of amateurs cast anchor or rather what does duty 

 as such within hail of our kitchen window, a favourite spot 

 of theirs. Lines were no sooner down than a brisk business 

 began in cod, varied by an occasional poddley which has 

 little or no market value, but which to us here is always 

 acceptable, and forms the principal part of our catches. 

 Several good catches of these have been taken here during 

 the month. What appears to be whitings two inches in 

 length is seen to be their food at present. The terns also 

 are seen to be on similar diet, and though engaged in con- 

 veying a mouthful to their young ones, it in no way impedes 

 their full flow of language, nor muffles in the slightest degree 

 their strident throat notes. 



During the unusually low tides occurring this month an 

 opportunity was afforded of examining a most peculiar form 

 of animal life of which I have nowhere seen any account. 

 Attached to the rocks amongst groups of corallines this 

 curious object* has all the semblance of a bird's claw. Imagine 

 the leg of a bird amputated at the knee, firmly fastened to 

 the rock by the cut end, and imbued with life, and you have 

 a fair idea of this animal. About half an inch in length, the 

 "leg" is seen to be composed of segments, and terminates in 

 three toes, furnished with sharp, curved claws, which keep 

 up a constant clutching at what is not apparent ; but the 

 action strongly reminds one of a similar effect produced by 

 juveniles who have become the proud possessor of a hen's 

 foot, and for a piece of slate pencil the usual juvenile cur- 

 rency demonstrate to admiring companions the utility of 

 the extensor muscles. 



Last month we had the unique experience of being 

 serenaded by the Dundee trippers with a cornet solo, but 

 the last Saturday of this month fairly eclipsed this per- 

 * Whale-louse. 



