BIRDS AND LIGHTHOUSES. 287 



be heard twittering together, and from this noise I 

 have often been able to detect their whereabouts. 

 Their nest might, by even a careful searcher, be 

 passed over a dozen times without being suspected, 

 though at the same time close at hand. In June, 

 1881, I organized a visit to these islands, to make 

 inquiries and search for the Greater Shearwater, 

 but without success. If it is to be found breeding 

 anywhere in the British Islands, the west coast of 

 Ireland is a more likely place than elsewhere ; the 

 wild, uninhabited islands on this coast affording 

 tempting and suitable haunts. 



The nearest town to the Blasquets is Tralee, from 

 whence a drive of nearly thirty miles must be 

 undertaken. The scenery on the journey is as 

 beautiful as it is varied. The road skirts both 

 Tralee and Dingle Bay for some distance. The 

 sand-banks of the latter destroy its capabilities for 

 being a fine harbour. To reach the islands a stout 

 smack must be hired, for, by reason of the strong 

 tides caused by the rocks, the sea here is very tur- 

 bulent. On leaving the harbour's mouth (Dingle), 

 we pass first the " Crow," a half-tide rock. The 

 cliffs as we sail by the mainland are very bold and 

 rugged. The Black Guillemot nests numerously 

 both here and on some of the islands. On clearing 

 the land, we pass some small islands, and then 

 reach the Great Blasquet, which is inhabited. 

 Some interesting antiquarian remains exist there. 

 Continuing our course westward, we come to Inish- 

 Nabro, with its prominent castle-shaped rocks. 

 Here the Puffin and Manx Shearwater breed in 

 abundance, especially on the southern side. 



