502 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



If the Godetz and Appoaatz were Murres aud Razor-bills it would 

 have required but a comparatively small extent of cliff for their accom- 

 modation, for at this early date every available inch of room must have 

 been occupied. 



The top of the Little Rock was covered with a thin deposit of guano, 

 marked with many shallow, saucer-like depressions where the G-annets 

 had made their nests, but not a single egg of this species was to be 

 seen, and the few eggs of the Murre and Razor-bill that were subse- 

 quently found had evidently been overlooked by the fishermen who 

 resort to this rock for supplies, and who had made a clean sweep of 

 everything within reach. 



A few Kittywakes had literally reared their young on the southern 

 side, and under the overhanging cliff on the northwest a small number 

 of Murres, Razor-bills, and Pufltius were breeding. 



Careful search brought to light a few eggs and nestlings, some of 

 these latter so carefully concealed among the bowlders that but for 

 their incessant peeping they would have been passed by. 



The top of the pillar was closely packed with breeding Gannets, while 

 a few were sprinkled along the sides. As this rock is somewhat diffi- 

 cult of access these birds, together with a small colony of Murres and 

 Razor-bills, probably succeeded in raising their young. From this spot 

 three young Grannets were obtained, these being the first of the season, 

 according to Mr. Turbid, the light-keeper, who most kindly gave us all 

 the aid and information in his power. 



The Great Rock is the real breeding place of the birds. Gannets, 

 Murres, Puffins, and Razor-bills being both abundant and tame, in spite 

 of the fact that they are subjected to continual persecution. The birds 

 do not seem to be divided into colonies according to species, Gan- 

 nets and Murres being found in juxtaposition, and although the 

 Gannets prefer the upper ledges, yet their distribution is to a great ex- 

 tent regulated by the width of the rocky shelves, the Murres taking 

 possession where there is not sufficient room to accommodate their 

 larger companions. There is, however, a tendency of birds of afeather 

 to flock together in little groups of a dozen or two, and at a distance the 

 cliffs appear seamed with white, owing to the long lines of j)erchiug 

 Gannets. 



The top of the Great Rock is now entirely deserted by all birds ex- 

 cept the little Leach's Petrels, who burrow in security among the frag- 

 ments of stone that everywhere show through the shallow soil. 



It is evident from the accounts of previous visitors that the interest- 

 ing colony at the Bird Rocks has become sadly diminished in numbers. 

 At the time of Oartier's visit, every inch of available space seems to 

 have been occupied by breeding birds, and in 1597 Charles Leigh said 

 " the three islands of birds are sandy red, but with the multitude of 

 birds upon them they looke white. The birds sit there as thicke as stones 

 lie in a paved street." 



