THE ZooLoGist—JUNE, 1876. 4933 
A First Peep at ihe Bird-breeders on old Farne. 
By H. Ecroyp Smiru, Esq. 
THE northern part of old Northumbria’s coast probably offers 
greater facilities, combined with comparative security, for the 
breeding of our numerous sea-fowl than any other reach of our 
British shores, unless we except that of Cornwall and the Scilly 
Isles. A host of rocky islands and islets constitute here three 
main groups—the Farne to S., the Staple to N.E., and lastly Holy 
Island, with its isolated islets. The whole archipelago—which 
belongs to the see, if not still to the county, of Durham —extends 
parallel with the main-beach, N.E. and §.W., to a length of about 
twelve miles, and extends seaward in a varying breadth of from 
four to five miles. I preface with these particulars as several 
recent maps delineate the groups very incorrectly. 
Having a vivid remembrance of glowing accounts of the oological 
and ornithological treasures of Farne,—to say nothing of its having 
been the latest British resort of that fine marine bird, the great 
auk,—it was with exultant feelings that I found myself, on the 
morning of the 2nd of last June, upon the village-beach of Bam- 
borough, and beneath its commanding old Castle, about to embark 
upon a long-desiderated visit to a few of the nearer islands, Dis- 
appointed of a companion, who had in fact originated the trip, 
I was forced throughout to depend upon individual resources alone 
in warding off suspicion of plundering; the agents of the property, 
in consequence of wholesale plundering from the main in recent 
seasons, having issued very stringent and foolishly indiscriminating 
orders. It was a fine invigorating morning,— 
“ The sky was bright, the breeze was fair, 
And the main-sail flowing loose and free,” 
as our craft sped steadily across the little channel, separating the 
castle-crag from the most landward of the Farne group. Upon a near 
approach to its white cliffs, glaring in the sun and utterly devoid of 
vegetation, the inhabitants, in form of cormorants, became distinct, 
stauding like a lot of rustic sentinels, all agape with wonder and 
curiosity at their unexpected visitors. It was not till the boat 
touched the rocks, and the smell of their nests had assumed an 
unmistakable character, that any of the creatures would trouble to 
budge, and thus expose their nests and eggs to view. The latter 
SECOND SERIZS—VOL. XI. aH 
