peesident's address. 417 



nebbed, two-legged toad, with a leaden-blue shiny snake-like 

 skin, From the Megstone the party sailed past The Wamses 

 and the scene of the wreck of the 'Porfarshire ' to the Longstone, 

 the farthest island of the Outer Fames, to see the Lighthouse 

 where the Darlings lived, but time did not permit them to land. 

 On their way to the Brownsman, they passed through the 

 Midden Gut and visited the Little Harcar, which had not been 

 at first intended. Most of the party remained on board, and the 

 others quickly got on board again, owing to the rapidly rising 

 tide, which was running like a mill-race. Here two of the 

 lighthouse keepers, in their well- named boat the Rescue, paid a 

 visit to the Triumph, and after some interchange of pleasant 

 compliments the voyage was resumed, picking up, fortunately, 

 on the way one or two valuable articles which had been dropped 

 overboard. On the Erownsman the birth-place of Grace Darling 

 was visited, and close by it an Eider-duck sitting on her nest. 

 It was stated that she had not been seen to leave her nest, nor 

 eat any food for four weeks, a wonderful example, if correct, of 

 strict attention to matei'nal duties, at any rate she took not the 

 slightest notice of the party who stood closely around her. 

 Several other Eider Ducks were seen and closely approached 

 without their being disturbed. Many nests of the Arctic and 

 the Common Tern were noticed, almost all with one egg. On 

 the Staples the Lesser Black-backed Gull was very numerous, 

 much care being required in walking about to avoid treading 

 upon their nests, which now contained generally the complement 

 of three eggs. These birds rose from their nests on being ap- 

 proached, but with less clamour than might be expected, but 

 quickly returning to their nests within a few yards of us. 

 Many Puffins were seen flying about or sitting on the water, 

 but none of their nests — which are underground — Avere searched 

 for or seen. It is not a pleasant thing to search for their nests, 

 as these birds have strong bills and a bad temper, and know how 

 to use the former effectively. A beautiful nest of the Eider, 

 built of small fine red seaweed and covered with down, was 

 much coveted, but left untouched. Another nest, containing 

 five eggs, which the duck had left without covering up as usual, 



