120 STRA Y FEA THERS FROM MANY BIRDS. 



It is the genial spring-time ; but the birds that 

 frequent these islands are late breeders, and although 

 they are here in thousands, not a nest has yet been 

 made or a single egg deposited. Every morning the 

 Gulls and Guillemots and Cormorants gather at the old 

 familiar nesting-places and appear to hold animated 

 discussions on the approaching nesting-time. But 

 these fluttering noisy hosts do not linger long, and 

 disperse themselves over the surrounding sea in quest 

 of food during the remainder of the day. Each 

 successive morning the birds stay longer, and as the 

 spring days come on apace crowds of beautiful Terns 

 make their appearance feathered strangers all the way 

 from southern seas, come here for the purpose of rearing 

 their young. The vernal song of the Rock Pipit sounds 

 cheerily from the boulders on the beach, and the noisy 

 piping of the Oyster-catchers and the love-trills of the 

 Ringed Plover mingle with the screams of Gulls and 

 Terns, and proclaim that summer has come at last. 



Now let us visit these interesting bird-colonies on a 

 bright warm day in early June, when all is bustle and 

 excitement, and the busy sea birds are deep in family 

 cares. Pairing took place shortly after our former visit ; 

 whilst many of these sea birds are mated to their partners 

 for life. The nearer we get to the islands the more 

 numerous do the birds become. We pass scores of 

 Guillemots and Puffins, fishing in the water, chasing their 



