48 



THE BIRDS OF IONA AND MULL. 



use their hooked bills to pull themselves up with : it seems to be 

 of more service to them than their claws. 



As might be expected from their great length of wing they 

 cannot spring up quickly into the air; when one is allowed to 

 escape from the hand, he runs rapidly along the ground for several 

 yards with the wings in motion before he can get fairly started ; 

 but if he meets with any declivity, he throws himself off and 

 swoops away to his ocean home. Within the limited space of 

 a room their wings are quite useless. 



The Petrel is also found breeding at Staffa, and at least at one of 

 the Treshnish Islands, though I have no doubt they frequent all of 

 them. Here their nesting-places are very different from those at 

 Soay, for they make their nests under the large stones on the beach. 

 These beaches are composed of blocks of basalt, about the size of 

 a hat, and are considerably raised above the sea level. They seem 

 never to have been much exposed to the action of the waves, for 



