Birds. 2913 



most distinctly articulated, and with a sharp stress upon the last syl- 

 lable. I cannot say that I could distinguish any of the sounds as 

 coming exclusively from the puffins, although they were flying 

 around, and sitting about in great numbers ; and although I endea- 

 voured, as accurately as possible, to identify the notes of each parti- 

 cular species, inasmuch as it is a part of their history, in regard to 

 which there is not, so far as I am aware, sufficient and precise infor- 

 mation in books. That the puffin, however, has a distinct and pecu- 

 liar cry, there cannot be any doubt. Along with the harsh and 

 grating screams, and the hoarse and prolonged murmurs, which seem 

 characteristic of sea-fowl, and which harmonize so beautifully with 

 the diversified moods of the ocean on which they have their almost 

 permanent abode, there come every now and then upon the ear the 

 well-known kae of the jackdaw, the familiar twitter of the house mar- 

 tin, and the rapid and joyous scream of the swift, as, with his length- 

 ened and sabre-like pinions, he skims, in all directions, before the face 

 of the gigantic and overhanging cliff. 



In particular caverns along the coast to which we are referring, 

 there are companies to be found of the black guillemot ( TJria Grylle), 

 or, as it is there called, the testie. Although, however, I have 

 examined dead specimens which were obtained from this locality, I 

 have never had an opportunity of meeting with it alive and in its cus- 

 tomary abode ; and, as I am desirous in the present communication 

 only to mention what I saw and heard with my own eyes and ears, I 

 am, in consequence, unable to give any information as to its peculiar 

 economy. It may be mentioned, in concluding, that on one of 

 the precipices of which we have been speaking, a falcon or peregrine 

 hawk (Falco peregrinus) is understood to have had her nest this sea- 

 son, and to have brought forth her young ;* and that the raven (Cor- 

 vus corax) also breeds here regularly every year ; and thus adds his 

 solemn and deep-toned curreqf to the varied sounds, which fall so 

 pleasantly on the watchful ear of the student of Nature. 



Generally speaking, the great body of the sea-fowl arrive on the 



* Many years ago, when in Banff, I received from the coast of Gamrie, by means 

 of Mr. Gardiner, of Greenskairs, the eggs of this celebrated falcon, and sent them to 

 Mr. Hewitson, by whom they were figured in his beautiful work on ' British Oology,' 

 The present Duke of Leeds, when Marquis of Carmarthen, procured the young bird 

 through the same medium, for the purpose of being trained to the sport of hawking. 

 It is understood that they were esteemed by his Lordship as more valuable than any 

 which he was able to procure from Norway. 



f Spelled in this manner by Mudie (' British Naturalist,' vol. ii. p. 182). 



