IN QUEST OF THE ERNE. 161 



eyries to six or seven. For several weeks I met with no 

 success, being either prevented from reaching particular 

 eyries at all, or finding those I did reach forsaken at the time 

 of my visit. 



One morning in July I set out to examine a line of cliffs 

 asserted to contain an eyrie, and as by this time my prospects 

 were being dimmed by the continually decreasing extent of 

 the country still untraversed, I searched this rocky shore with 

 the mingled feelings of fear and hope more deeply emphasised 

 than hitherto. Following the zigzag course of cliffs is a 

 slow proceeding, but the only sure one of discovering a rare 

 and local species. I relied on noise to frighten up the more 

 wary tenants of the cliffs, and regularly hurled down stones as 

 I advanced. The cliffs were irregular, with stony and grassy 

 patches upon them, and were tenanted chiefly by Herring- 

 gulls and a few lesser Blackbacks, with the inevitable Shags. 

 Other rock-frequenting species, as Hooded-Crow, Raven and 

 Rock-pipit, were sparingly distributed, and at the rock base 

 and off shore Black Guillemots, Oyster-catchers and a single 

 Eider-drake were observed. Cliff succeeded cliff with jagged 

 edge and sheer descent, but in vain did I shout or roll down 

 stones. Shags were resting on small rocky borders, or a 

 Raven would be scared, but the eagerly sought for Erne 

 appeared not. Before and above a cliff away ahead of me the 

 Herring-gulls were in wild commotion, and with ever increas- 

 ing din were hailing my approach to their home. Presently 

 an apparent rock, revealed for a moment by the tide, drew my 

 attention off shore, but not again appearing at the regular 

 motion of the tide made me suspect its nature ; it proved to 

 be a large porpoise, but it did not at succeeding blows rise so 

 prominently into notice. On reaching the colony of Herring- 

 gulls, I rested on the grassy summit of a headland to watch 

 their actions. Like huge snowflakes, rising and falling and 

 twisting in and out amongst one another's trackless paths, 

 they heaved up and down, surging now this way now that, in 

 front of the rocky precipice, and maintaining a ceaseless din 

 not unpleasing to the ear, and suiting in its wild melody their 

 terrible home. 



My attention was presently arrested by the tameness of 



