THE SKELLIGS AND SEA-FOWL. 261 



was also found and kept on the island, and was in- 

 cluded in the inventory of the lighthouse stores, but 

 is no longer to be seen. 



About fifty yards below the cells is a garden, in 

 which quantities of human remains have been dug 

 up from time to time. It is the only level piece of 

 ground on the rock this portion of which is in- 

 fested with mice. Near the cells is an underground 

 stone-faced passage, the motive for building which 

 is unknown. Several people interested in such 

 matters have endeavoured to explore it to the end 

 without success. It is very narrow, and water lies 

 in it. Now we have viewed the chief places of 

 interest and will descend the long flight of steps, 

 580 in number, passing on our way an upright stone 

 of twelve feet high, shaped to a point at the top, 

 and of a different grain to any other rock or stone 

 on the island. Fifty steps more and we are again 

 at the Blue Man's Rock, and close to our landing- 

 place. 



Having now described the Great Skellig, we will 

 allude more fully to its feathered inhabitants, and 

 begin with THE GANNET (S^da bassana). This bird 

 is most particular as to the spot on which it nests ; 

 the only other places on the coast of Ireland at 

 which it breeds I have previously alluded to. A 

 former nesting-haunt the Stag Rocks of Broad- 

 haven, co. Mayo as I am informed by Mr. R. 

 Warren, they have recently deserted. On the 

 Little Skellig from three to four hundred birds sit 

 every year. They are supposed to build with 

 fish-bones, but this is incorrect. The nest merely 

 consist of hollows in the guano, with a few dis- 



