4 BIRD HAUNTS AND NATURE MEMORIES 



In size the island is about five-eighths of a mile long by 

 a quarter broad, and everywhere, except at the southern 

 end, nearest to Anglesey, it rises steeply from the sea, 

 weathered limestone cliffs providing ledges and cracks 

 on which birds can nest. The actual crags are not high, 

 but above the rocks a steep grass slope rises to 100 or 

 1 60 feet; on, or rather in, this slope the puffins nest; only 

 a few find holes in the rocks below. The whole of the 

 top of the island resembles a great rabbit-warren, honey- 

 combed with burrows; some of these are the occupied 

 or ancient homes of rabbits, but the majority are the work 

 of the puffins. 



Strictly speaking, the ovate or oblong island points 

 north-east and south-west; it is, however, convenient to 

 speak of the eastern and western sides. At the northern 

 and highest point is the only habitable, though usually 

 uninhabited, house, originally built as a signal station 

 for the Liverpool Dock and Harbour Board; by sema- 

 phore messages were passed onto the Great Orme's Head 

 and thence transmitted to Liverpool. When telegraphic 

 communication was more perfect the station was aban- 

 doned, and it was taken over as a marine laboratory by 

 the Liverpool Marine Biological Society, who, when they 

 moved to Port Erin, handed it over to Bangor College. 

 It was, at the time of one of my visits, neglected and dirty ; 

 pellitory of the wall had pushed its way through the 

 woodwork of the windows and shed its seeds over the 

 rotting bedsteads. Later, I found it dismantled doors 

 burst open and windows smashed, slates scattered over 

 the cliff beneath; the next tenant will have a heavy bill 

 for repairs. Close to the house are the ruins of a smaller 

 storehouse, and in the centre of the island stand the 

 remains of St. Seiriol's Church. No part of the old church 

 is left standing except a stout square tower, said by some 

 to be part of the original building, but probably kept in 



