on puffins on the Saltee Islands.



243



attached to a central string, weighted at each end. This is laid on a

rock frequented by the birds, and, as they alight, their feet become

entangled.


I made no inspection of nests. I have had some experience

of dealing with Parrots, and have learnt that it is wise to approach

any bird with some degree of care, even if it is quite light; and the

prospect of meeting a Sea Parrot’s beak in a lonely dark burrow,

without warning, did not greatly appeal to me.


Evidences of the presence of plenty of young birds were not

wanting, as parents constantly returned from the sea with small

fish, three or four deep, held in their beaks, and one’s pity was

excited for the poor wee fish in the back row, as each new arrival

in front must have meant an additional squeeze for him !


Puffins, as is generally known, are migratory, arriving (in a

fog, according to the legend) early in April and departing with their

young by the end of August. They only lay one egg.


Many other species, including the following, breed on the

Saltees, some in very large numbers : Greater and Lesser Black-

backed, Hei'ring, and Kittiwake Gulls, Razorbills, Guillemots, Cor¬

morants, Oyster-catchers, Manx Shearwaters, etc.


As an evidence of tameness, I might mention that, when

engaged in photography, I climbed down to a point of rock on which

several Guillemots were sitting. All but one, which was covering

young, flew away. She refused to budge, and allowed me to stroke

her and even close my hand round her neck.


From this point I could almost touch young Kittiwakes in

nests above my head, and a Cormorant sat on her nest lower down

making very unpleasant faces at me from time to time.


One could very pleasantly devote a week, in the breeding

season, to studying the bird life in this large unwired aviary 1\ x J

mile in extent. My brief visit was limited to a few hours, most of

this time being spent with the Puffins. I must therefore offer an

apology for a very incomplete and indifferent impression from

memory, and I should mention that I am indebted to a friend—

a geological expert—for any references as to the geological formation

of the islands.



