458 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



the materials of which it has been originally composed ; nor is it 

 by any means an agreeable task to examine such an offensive 

 mass. The eggs, in most cases four in number, are at first 

 pleasant to look upon, but soon become soiled. Of their quality 

 as an article of food I am unable to speak from personal experi- 

 ence; but Dr Edmonston a correspondent of the late Dr 

 Macgillivray who seems to have tried them, says they "deserve 

 all the execration which even the Esquimaux bestow on them." 

 Yet the bird itself, which must even be worse, is eaten and 

 relished by the Hebrideans, who prefer it when young, as its flesh 

 is then said to be more tender. As regards the flavour, however, 

 both young and old must be equally offensive; and it would 

 certainly baffle the cleverest cook to disguise or keep down the 

 aroma of such a dish. When subjected to a temporary burial in 

 fresh earth the odious taste is said to be much ameliorated ; but I 

 hope that none of my readers may ever require through necessity 

 to put a scart's edible properties to the test. 



The obliteration of the nostrils of this bird takes place about 

 the time when the young ones are ready to fly. It is very extra- 

 ordinary that the possession of this feature should be retained 

 only during the stay of the bird in the nest a cradle acknow- 

 ledged by every observer to be almost insufferable to the sense of 

 smell. Many persons would think that the want of nostrils at 

 this period of their lives would be a much better arrangement. 



The late Professor Macgillivray, whose account of the species 

 is, I think, the best given by any British author, was informed by 

 Dr Edmonston that in the Shetland Islands it is subject to 

 epidemics, which occasionally greatly reduce its numbers a 

 remark which has evidently been founded on partial observation. 



THE GANNET OR SOLAN GOOSE. 



SULA ALBA. 

 Sulaire. 



DURING the summer months this well-known bird is an abundant 

 species over the whole coast line of the West of Scotland. From 

 Ailsa Craig vast numbers distribute themselves in the day time 

 from the south of Wigtownshire to the northern shores of Argyle; 

 while from St. Kilda even larger flocks become dispersed through- 



