224 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



I was much surprised, on leaving St Kilda on 12th 

 October 191 1, to witness this species participating in 

 the scramble which took place for entrails and other 

 fish refuse which the cook of the Mercury cast over- 

 board when preparing dinner. Yet a number of adult 

 Gannets contested with the numerous Gulls, Pomato- 

 rhine Skuas, Shearwaters, and Fulmars for a share 

 of the offal, which, when successful, they devoured 

 with the greatest gusto. I was not previously aware 

 that this species was to be regarded as one of the 

 scavengers of the ocean. 



Ardea cinerea, Heron. — Macaulay (p. 160), writing 

 in 1764, remarks : "Should it be asserted here that the 

 St Kildans have, by dint of stalking, caught Herons, 

 that is the most watchful fowls in the world, I am afraid 

 the story would hardly be credited, though the fact 

 seems to be well attested." The natives of to-day, 

 however, regard this as a yarn, and do not claim such 

 mastery in the use of their " bird-rods." Wilson (ii., p. 

 81), on the authority of the Rev. Neil Mackenzie, states 

 that the Heron visits the island in the winter. The 

 Rev. J. Waterston {Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1905, p. 202) 

 observed one in June 1905. Mackenzie (p. 76) remarks 

 that the Herons visiting the islands die of starvation, 

 which is likely, since there are no suitable feeding 

 grounds. We observed and heard one or more on many 

 occasions between the 4th September and 2nd October 

 1910. They came under notice chiefly at night, and 

 made their presence known by their harsh unmusical 

 notes. These birds probably spent the daytime on 

 some of the adjacent islands of the group. 



This species was not seen in 191 1 until ist October, 

 when a single bird appeared. Several arrived with 



