ee 
Birds. 9159 
Along the north and west coasts of the island runs a long line of 
sand-hills, about fifty yards above high-water mark, perforated in many 
places with rabbit-holes, in some of which, as I learned from my guide, 
the shieldrake breeds every year. This was interesting intelligence, 
and I had some hopes of obtaining not only a few of their eggs but also 
a pair of the birds themselves. 
In the centre of the island, upon that portion which is not cultivated, 
we walked over a beautiful carpet of flowers. The burnet-rose (Rosa 
spinosissima), the crimson cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum), and a 
beautiful little pansy (Viola tricolor) were growing close together in 
profusion, and were all in full bloom, and while the eye was delighted 
with the colours, white, crimson and blue, a delicious smell came from 
the flowers of the rose. 
Instead of walking abruptly over the sand-hills, I went down on my 
hands and knees and crept cautiously to the top, regardless of the 
noisy cry of a pair of oystercatchers that kept flying round me in large 
circles, and convincing me by their manner that they must have a nest 
at hand. On peering through the long grass which covered the hill- 
top, what a pleasing sight met my view! The tide running out, and a 
score of shieldrakes, male and female, feeding below high-water mark, 
about four hundred yards distant. They were easily recognized by 
their bright colours and by their walk, which is more like the firm step 
of a goose than the waddle of a duck, and appeared to be feeding on 
the cockles and small shell-fish left by the receding tide. Ob! if I 
could only crawl within range of them. But the thing is impossible. 
Long before I could reach them, they would see me, and be off. The 
only plan, therefore, is for my guide to try and drive them to me. 
Accordingly he started off, keeping behind the sand-hills, and endea- 
vouring to get to a spot from whence he might run down to the 
beach and put the birds up between us, in the hope of driving them 
over me, as I lay concealed in the grass, Two or three times, as a 
single pair rose from the scattered flock, and came flying inland at a 
great height, I fancied they were coming towards me; but, as if sen- 
sible of a hidden danger, they wheeled again and disappeared round 
the abrupt sand-hills. Before my guide could reach the spot he 
intended, the whole flock had risen and disappeared, without having 
afforded me a single shot. Several times subsequently did I endea- 
vour to get within range of these wary birds, but they were so shy 
that I found it impossible to reach them even with cartridge. The 
only other method I knew of to obtain a pair was by trapping, and by 
this means, I am almost ashamed to add, I subsequently obtained a 
