90 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
bird-life. In every suitable nook of the clay cliffs or cran- 
nies of the rock-face Razorbills ensconce themselves, and lay 
towards the end of May, while the open rock ledges are 
crowded with Guillemots. In places any one with ordinary 
powers of locomotion can reach the breeding-shelves of the 
latter. Near the ‘‘ Cat Cliff” lofty eminences rise from the sea, 
their faces all seamed with ledges, on every one of which 
Guillemots sit in rows. The small end of the egg is usually 
towards the sea, and the Guillemot sits with its breast towards 
the cliff. If the bird intends to depart, it is amusing to see how 
carefully it turns round and gets free from the egg, but, if suddenly 
frightened, it often precipitates its treasure in the panic of its 
flight. On the 14th of May, 1883, I could see no Guillemot’s 
egg, and but one Razorbill’s, on the island, though these birds 
were on their breeding-ledges. Guillemots lay here during the 
last week in May and the first half of June, Razorbills’ eggs being 
somewhat more numerous in May. During a storm, the sea that 
breaks into the chasms and eaves of the cliffs is tremendous. 
It is then surprising to see how the Puffins and Guillemots will 
precipitate themselves into the boiling surf and flap along until 
they dive under the next wave, apparently swamped in the raging 
element. But they rapidly reappear far out, where the waves 
soon become dotted with then. 
Rock Pigeons (with white upper tail-coverts) and Jackdaws 
frequent caverns in the boulder-clay and rocks, but Choughs are 
absent from the island, which is probably too much crowded with 
other species: they prefer to have a quiet sea-cave to themselves. 
A pair of Ravens are stated by a resident on the island to have 
bred there until a few years ago. 
But, of the many breeding species, the Kittiwakes are the 
most attractive. Against the steep cliff-faces, whether of clay or 
rock, their innumerable nests are stuck like those of Swallows 
wherever a slight projection affords a basis. As we walk past 
and overlook cliff after cliff in the indented margin of the 
boulder-clay, we see an endless array of Kittiwakes seated on 
their nests while their mates are passing to and fro. They do 
not think of quitting their nests, though gazed at closely, and it 
is hard to scare them from their eggs until the intruder descends 
among them. When the male (?) returns from sea and alights 
on the nest beside his mate, both continue screaming for some 
