46 STACK AND SKERRY. 



of fennel, which, when bruised, gives forth a strong aromatic scent, 

 predominated over the cochlearia, and in others the order was 

 reversed. The fennel seemed to choose the deeper soil of the 

 Puffins' ground, the cochlearia preferring the stonier and thinner 

 soil. The dark green grass before mentioned occurred in patches 

 in the deeper soil in the hollows, and seems to have been principally 

 encouraged by the droppings of gulls and Eider Ducks, nests of 

 which were often placed in the thicker tufts. Here and there 

 were pools of spray or rain-water, with rich mould and grasses 

 round their margins, and muddy slopes, in which the footprints of 

 ducks and gulls were abundantly visible. 



" Several of the pools are visited by the Great Grey Seals, which 

 travel even as far as the middle of the island, and here an annual 

 slaughter is made by boats from Sutherland, when the seals con- 

 gregate in October for breeding purposes. 



"The birds observed on the Skerry were, Turnstones in flocks of 

 from five to twelve ; Oyster-catchers, common ; Eock Pipits fairly 

 abundant ; Shags very numerous, breeding all over the rocky fringe, 

 in the open crevices of the ruins of the old house, and in almost 

 every available spot, most of the young being hatched out. I saw 

 no Cormorants. 



" Great Black-backed Gulls, a good many pairs amongst large 

 numbers of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Herring Gulls common, 

 apparently congregating mostly towards the east end, and on the 

 east side of the rent or tide geo. Black Guillemots not very common, 

 a few pairs among the barer rocks. Puffins very common all over 

 the vegetation-covered portions, and tunnelling all over it. Eider 

 Ducks common; I came upon several nests. The Arctic Tern was 

 the only species of tern identified, and I shot one and preserved a 

 foot, tail, and wing, to satisfy myself and others." 



On another occasion, as related below, Harvie-Brown made 

 a second unsuccessful attempt to land upon the Stack, and we again 

 quote from his Journal as follows : 



"We sailed oil the night of June 28th, 1889, for Stack, from 

 Scrabster. A heavy sea running seriously interrupted the way of 

 the vessel, and we did not reach off till 9 A.M. next day. 



