324 Proceedings of the Boycd Physical Society. 



breeding on the Isle of May. Mr Eobert Gray lately spoke 

 of their existence there, but it seems to be exceedingly 

 doubtful that they have bred for years back. E"either Com- 

 mon, Arctic, nor Eoseate terns occur now (1884), though the 

 latter is spoken of by Mr Gray as at one time occurring 

 there. Indeed, it is only very rarely that the Isle of May is 

 ever visited by Terns, even on migration. The only one ever 

 caught at the lantern was one in 1879, but they are of course 

 seen out at sea. 



Eazoebill, Alca torda, L. — !N'ot very abundant, though Mr 

 Agnew speaks of them during some seasons as being in 

 hundreds. I saw very few in the " height of the season " 

 in 1880. Indeed, there appear to be very few nesting sites 

 such as they delight in — few broad ledges, a few creeks and 

 crannies and rents in the cliff face, but scarcely likely- 

 looking to hold hundreds nesting. 



Common Guillemot, Uria troile, L. — Fairly abundant, and 

 I believe as many as the cliff face and ledges afford foot-hold 

 and nesting sites for. More numerous than on the Bass 

 Eock. I saw a few, but very few, of the bridled variety in 

 1880. Mr Clyne shot five Guillemots at a shot one day, 

 one of which was bridled, but this cannot be taken as an 

 average. 



KiTTiWAKE, Rissct tridactyla, L. — Common at the S.W. and 

 most precipitous parts of the cliffs, and on the cave sides. 

 We took an Qgg in Fresco Cave in 1880. 



FuFFiN, Mormon fratercula, L. — Breeds but very sparingly. 

 Not more than twenty pairs in 1884. I saw none in 1880. 



Ols. — The Black guillemot ( Uria grylle, L.) used to breed 

 here, but has become very rare or extinct of late. In 1880, 

 Mr Agnew's son James saw one a few days before I was 

 there. The Agnews do not know if they bred there that 

 year or not, but their being seen occasionally would make a 

 more careful search worth while, perhaps, amongst the suit- 

 able clefts and fissures of the lower parts of the island 

 towards the E. and S. sides. Mr J. H. Buchanan, who also 

 visited the Isle of May a short time before I did, thought he 

 saw one in June 1880. These statements are interesting, as 

 it was well known to have bred regularly many years ago 



