WAYSIDE NOTES. 9 
of “‘empties’”’; but notwithstanding this, and in spite of the 
“ancient and fishlike smell,’ we made ourselves pretty com- 
fortable on the bridge. On our way to the islands we saw a good 
many Gulls,—Herring, Lesser Black-backs, and Kittiwakes ; 
there were also a few Razorbills and Guillemots about, and a few 
Puffins; and as we got nearer the islands, one or two Cor- 
morants and a good many Shags. There was also a Tern or 
two flying about by the sandy beaches. We landed on St. 
Mary’s Island, where I may say, for the information of anyone 
wanting to go there, there are no less than three hotels. The 
one we went to is in the old fort, and is called ‘‘ High House.” 
We found it very comfortable. 
On the 30th we were taken to Trescoe, which I found to be a 
mistake, as we ought to have gone to Annette Island, which is 
the great breeding-place. Both islands might perhaps be visited 
in a day, but the boatmen do not care to overwork themselves, 
and have, moreover, a great idea of the danger of their own 
seas and the strength of their own tides. The tides, however, 
did not seem to be very hot, nor was the rise and fall much (25 
feet), compared to the hot tides in the Channel Islands with 40 
feet rise and fall. On the sail over to Trescoe we saw a few 
Common Terns about, but they did not appear to be breeding at 
Trescoe or on any of the islands we passed. We went over Mr. 
Dorian Smith’s grounds, which are very interesting, especially to 
the botanist, on account of the tropical plants which grow there 
out of doors; they require shelter, however, from the winds, and 
directly they get their heads above the shelter of the rocks or 
trees they are cut back by the wind. Amongst other things we 
saw Mr. Dorian Smith’s Ostriches, bred there last year. On the 
pond near the grounds were Coots and Moorhens, and the 
gardener who showed us round said the Moorhens bred there, 
but not the Coots. After seeing Mr. Dorian Smith’s grounds we 
had a long walk over the island, along the narrow channel 
between Trescoe and one of the other islands, by an old tower 
said to have been built by Oliver Cromwell, and back by the sea- 
side, but saw only a few Common Terns fishing in the narrow 
channel. On getting back to our own island, St. Mary’s, we had 
a long walk by the shore to“the north end, seeing only a few 
Ring Dotterel, and not finding any eggs. We found one Oyster- 
catcher’s nest, however, on the sand—a mere scratch under 
