i8o president's address. 



descent to the sea before they could take wing. The Lesser 

 Black-backed Gull was nesting in considerable numbers, but 

 there were not so many birds or eggs as I have seen in past 

 years. I understand the Association now in possession of the 

 Islands are desirous of decreasing these birds, and for edible 

 purposes send large numbers of their eggs to Bamburgh, 

 Cragside, and probably elsewhere. It was of great interest to 

 me to see three nests of this bird containing four eggs and 

 two nests containing five each. Probably the eggs were those 

 of one bird, but the number was large. I thought one of the 

 nests containing five eggs was open to some doubt, but the 

 other I believe to be genuine. The Watcher gave me an 

 account of observing it from day to day, and I had no reason 

 to doubt any of his statements. The length of life of this 

 bird is difficult to ascertain, but a Mrs. Leighton kept one on 

 the mainland for twenty-two years, and then its death was 

 caused by violence. Only one Herring Gull was observed. 

 These birds have always been scarce on the Islands. It is 

 difficult to account for their numbers not increasing. Rock 

 Pipits were not seen, and we were told they are now very 

 scarce. 



We next proceeded to view the Pinnacles with their Guille- 

 mot-covered tops. No inch of room was unoccupied, but we 

 could see little of the eggs. One ringed bird was observed. 

 The Guillemots appeared in much the same numbers as in 

 previous years. Kittiwakes were nesting in great numbers on 

 the sides of the Island and the ledges of the Pinnacles. Some 

 young birds were hatched, but most of the nests had eggs in 

 them. Four nests on a ledge were touching each other. 

 These birds I think are certainly an increasing species. The 

 Razor-bill was not seen, but the Watchers reported two or 

 three nesting birds. The adjoining Brownsman where the 

 Watchers reside in the old lighthouse was not visited, but they 

 stated several pairs of Common Terns were nesting there. 



We next visited one of the Wamses, where several Lesser 

 Black-backed Gulls were nesting. One nest contained two 

 very dark brown eggs, and one a beautiful light blue. 



