THE NORTH ISLES. 15 



ment. On one part of the beach were quantities of whales' bones, 

 probably the result of some former whale hunt. There are a few 

 Babbits on the island. 



There are also several small holms lying between Sanday and 

 Stronsay, such as the holms of Spurness and Huip, but these, 

 owing to pressure of time and the want of good anchorage near at 

 hand for the yacht, we were unable to visit personally. 



EDAY. 



This is one of the principal islands we have not personally 

 visited, but in regard to its avi-fauna we regret this the less, 

 inasmuch as we have been furnished with notes thereon by Mr. 

 Kanken, a brother-in-law of the proprietor, Mr. Hebden, all of 

 which are entered in their proper place. Eday was at one time 

 almost entirely covered with heather, and its large peat banks sup- 

 plied the neighbouring islands of Sanday and North Eonaldsay. 

 Now, however, the heather has largely disappeared, giving place in 

 the south-east to fields so large and well cultivated that the skipper 

 of the yacht remarked as we sailed past that they were " as good 

 as the Lothians." This change accounts for the gradual decrease 

 of the Grouse, and the total disappearance as a breeding species 

 of Eichardson's Skua ; for, whatever may have been the case when 

 Salmon and Dunn visited these islands, Mr. Kanken has frequently 

 assured us this bird no longer breeds there now. 



Numbers of birds, however, breed on the Calf of Eday, an 

 island of some 500 acres, and on the Eed Head, which latter, 200 

 feet high, takes its name from the red-coloured sandstone of which 

 it is composed. The island itself is of irregular shape, and, with 

 the Calf, which is only a few hundred yards from Eday, contains 

 about 9000 acres. 



Mr. Eanken sends us the following notes on the geology of the 

 island : 



" In its structure, from a geological point of view, Eday is com- 

 paratively simple, consisting of a well-defined basin occupied by 

 a series of extensive yellow and red sandstones, resting conform- 

 ably on flagstones of a grey or rusty colour. Both on the east and 



