270 The Fame Islands. 



of the rare Sandwich tern. But, fortunately, in 

 the year 1888, an association of gentlemen 

 interested in ornithology was formed, and was 

 enabled to obtain a lease of the islands ; and since 

 that time the birds and their eggs have been most 

 efficiently preserved, egg-collecting being strictly 

 prohibited except with th'e special leave of the 

 proprietors, which, except in the case of the gulls' 

 eggs mentioned hereafter, is practically never 

 granted. As might be expected, much trouble 

 was experienced iu the early days of preservation ; 

 but a judicious mixture of firmness and kindness 

 appears to have made the path of the Association 

 smooth; firmness was shown by bringing actions 

 against trespassers, kindness by taking the first 

 eggs of the guils and dividing them among the 

 fishermen. The islands are carefully watched by 

 four keepers, who live on them during the whole of 

 the breeding season, and allow no one to land 

 unless provided with a pass. These passes can be 

 obtained on application to Mr. Cuthbertson, at 

 Seahouses, North Sunderland, or to the landlady 

 of the "Crew Arms Hotel" at Bamburgh; they 

 are granted on the applicant paying a small fee 

 and signing an undertaking not to take any eggs 

 or in any way molest the birds, and generally to 

 obey the rules of the Association if allowed to land 

 on the islands. The result has been all that could 

 be desired, as we understand that more birds are 

 breeding on the islands this season than has been 

 the case for many years. 



