1 64 WILD WINGS 



ledges were crowded, the air was full of them. It takes a 

 windy day to show Bird Rock at its best. Then the birds are 

 constantly in motion, apparently from the very love of flight. 

 Those that must incubate do so for but a few moments, and 

 then are off for a spin and circuit out over the water, ere they 

 return for another short vigil. 



The most notable increase, I think, has been among the 

 Kittiwakes, the beautiful pearly-mantled white gull that nests 

 in the niches of the cliffs. Perhaps they are now the most 

 numerous species. About equal in number are the great 

 Gannets, the largest of the inhabitants. Their accustomed 

 ledges were all filled, and in the distance I could see that the 

 summits of the three parts of North Bird Rock, three quarters 

 of a mile away, were literally white with them. The Murres 

 probably come next, and have more than held their own. 

 The Briinnich's Murre is much more numerous than the 

 "Common " kind. As before, there are only a few dozen of the 

 " Ringed Murre " type or phase, of uncertain classification. 

 The Razor-billed Auks are about as numerous as the Murres 

 and have certainly multiplied, but the Puffins have possibly 

 decreased slightly in numbers. As for the Petrels, I saw and 

 heard nothing of them, though there are a few in the burrows. 



After breakfast I filled my plate-holders, now dry, though 

 somewhat warped inside, and began the work. I had a ca- 

 pacity of thirty plates with my reflex camera and of two 

 dozen with my Century. As a matter of fact the former was 

 the only one I used. When the thirty plates were exposed, 

 I went into the cellar, which I had darkened, packed away the 

 exposures, filled the holders, and went out for another batch 

 of pictures. The wind was so violent that it was practically 

 impossible to do any tripod work. 



During the morning I made snap-shots at flying birds, and 

 took the precaution to develop two plates in the cellar, thus 



