The Zoologist— May, 1870. 2115 



As the}' float within a few yards, and I see their size, T am fairly 

 puzzled to know what they are : they are certainly not L. ridibundiis, 

 being too large, and this not being the habitat of that species. They 

 were without doubt breeding on the stack, but being very wary they 

 would not alight, though I stayed long and patiently, watching them : 

 it was useless to shoot, for they would fall into the boiling sea below, 

 and no boat could near the stack. I need not say that I could not see 

 the colour of the feet, the gulls always flying with their feet folded 

 under the feathei's. 1 have thought it might have been Bonaparte's 

 gull ; but reluctantly I am compelled to leave without coming to any 

 satifactory conclusion. 



I now rejoin the climbers, who have gathered many of the eggs of 

 the guillemot and razorbill ; but I shall leave all descriptions of the 

 breeding and habits of the rock birds till we reach Barra Head, only 

 saying that the whole of the west and south sides of Mingalay for 

 three or four miles is one vast breeding-station, but the wind being so 

 high 1 did not descend far, as in Bernera there are many sheltered 

 nooks where one can observe the habits of the rock birds at leisure. 

 During the last two seasons, owing to the enormous destruction of 

 the rock birds at other stations, for ladies' plumes, the number of 

 kitliwakes have perceptibly increased, as here they can breed in perfect 

 safety from the most greedy bird-killer, for they cannot be shot from 

 above, and the base of the precipices is so full of rocks, and such a 

 current and surf is always running, that it is dangerous to approach 

 near : every true naturalist will rejoice at this. 



Climbing once more to the top of the precipice, I watch how the 

 natives of these islands catch the birds. They use the flesh and eggs 

 for food, often salting it down for winter use. One of the men sits 

 on the verge of the cliff, at the mouth of a small gully, up which the 

 wind, striking the precipice, comes with such irresistible force that 

 on approaching near one is almost driven backwards ; while the 

 razorbills and guillemots, unable to settle on their ledges near, are 

 whirled aloft like chaff. As some birds try to reach the ledges from 

 below others dangle in the air over the gully, trying to get down, their 

 wings and legs going all ways, in a ludicrous fashion, as they try in 

 vain to settle. The climber, grasping his bird-pole firmly in both 

 hands, is lying on the edge, his feet firmly planted against the rock, 

 and as a luckless puffin is dangling in the air, trying to get down, he 

 strikes it from below, and sends the stunned bird spinning far behind 

 him, where his mate picks it up. The climber says that if the puffins 



