50 THE BIRDS OF lONA AND MULL. 



I have compared specimens taken from these two different 

 breeding-places, but I am unable to detect any difference between 

 them. The Soay bird is always silent ; ^ I never heard him 

 indulge in these curious melodies. Both have a very powerful 

 odour — a musky kind of smell, which adheres to the skins years 

 after they are stuffed, and to everything they come in contact 

 with. I have perceived it when walking upon the beaches at 

 Carnbulg Island, and at Soay it needs no terrier to inform you 

 which holes are inhabited. 



III. 



loNA, 1*1 th February 1852. 



The Eed-legged Ceow (Fregilus gracnlus). 



We have three pairs of these birds constantly resident upon the 

 island, and there are several other pairs which make their nests 

 upon the adjacent rocky shores of Mull. The lona birds breed 

 every season upon the island, and usually roost during the rest 

 of the year somewhere in the vicinity of their old nests ; but 

 though they rear a young brood every season, these are sent off 



1 It almost appears from our author's remarks that this curious melody is sung 

 to the song of the sad sea-waves rolling up the pebbly-strewn shore ; and that 

 they may be partially induced by the monotony of the surrounding sounds ; and 

 further, that in the deep loam of the peaty chambers of Soay a greater silence 

 is upon the inhabitants of the Petrelry, owing to the greater surrounding 

 silence. — Ed. 



