CH. VII.] MORTALITY AMONGST SEA-BIRDS. 235 



food, as cuddies (to say nothing of other fish) then 

 abound in all the lochs and bays of that coast to 

 an extent almost inconceivable. 



A very remarkable and extensive mortality 

 was observed to prevail this autumn, 1859, (about 

 the months of August and September) amongst 

 several species of sea-birds along the west coasts 

 of Scotland, Ireland, and England, the species 

 more particularly affected by it appearing to be 

 Guillemots, Razor-bills, Puffins, and Gulls, numbers 

 of which were picked up along the shore, the 

 greater part dead, but some still alive, though so 

 reduced and helpless that they could be taken up 

 by the hand. A friend of mine in the Isle of 

 Arran picked up in the course of one morning's 

 walk upwards of fifty dead and dying, mostly 

 Guillemots and Razor-bills, but including a few of 

 the two other kinds mentioned. 



This mortality was noticed at several different 

 .places along the coast, and appeared to have a 

 very wide range, extending as far round on the 

 south coast as Bournemouth. I have been unable 

 to trace it further to the westward, but am 

 informed that there was a marked falling off this 

 summer from the usual number of these birds 

 which annually resort to the Freshwater Cliffs to 



