VOL. xm.] THE BIRDS OF BARDSEY ISLAND. 215 



In June 1905 Mr. Coward was able to verify this, and found 

 fifty or sixty pairs at least and probably some hundreds 

 sitting on whitewashed ledges. 



In June 1913 on neither of my journeys did we sail suffi- 

 ciently near to land for me to make any useful observations, 

 and I only saw an odd pair or two on the water. I afterwards, 

 when at the southern end of the Herring-Gull colony, saw one 

 or two pairs on the sea, but never saw any " traffic " to and 

 from the rocks. 



None were seen in September. 



The British Puffin {Fratercula arctica grabce). 



Not recorded by Mr. Aplin in 1901, but Mr. Coward saw many 

 in the tideway close in shore in June 1905 and suspected that 

 some were breeding, but could not find where. In June 1913, 

 while crossing to Bardsey, I saw no Puffins at all until near 

 the eastern shore of the island, which would lead one to suspect 

 that they were breeding there, though the numbers were 

 small. On the other hand, while exploring the Herring-Gull 

 colony, though a few Puffins were seen on the water, there 

 was no " traffic " going on from sea to cliff, as was certainly 

 the case with the few Razorbills seen. 



It is important to note in this connection that 1913 was an 

 abnormal year. The small Puffin colony on the mainland at 

 Trwyn-y-Penrhyn was not tenanted, and though there were 

 many hundreds of Puffins in the sea off Ynys-Gwylan-Mawr, 

 there was no to-and-fro traffic going on at all between sea and 

 land on June 25th and 26th. (Compare also reports from west 

 coast of Scotland, Report on Scottish Ornithology, 1913, p. 17.) 



The question as to whether Puffins breed on Bardsey, as 

 they were said to do by Ray, in 1662, is therefore still doubtful. 



None were seen in September. 



The Land-Rail {Crex crex). 



A regular double-passage migrant in considerable numbers. 



Spring passage, from the third week in April to the third 

 week in May. 



Autumn passage, from the third week in August to the fourth 

 week in September. 



As a summer resident recorded both by Mr. Aplin and Mr. 

 Coward as numerous. 



In June 1913 its voice was constantly heard by day and 

 night all over the cultivated area. I computed the population 

 as at least ten pairs. 



In September they were occasionally seen when walking 



