122 A'ilsa Craig and its Birds. 



some of these are deserving of more than a passing notice, it may 

 not be out of place to record their occurrence. Among the 

 raptorial birds, the most distinguished visitors (for they no 

 longer breed there) are the golden and white-tailed eagles. 

 These are chiefly seen in autumn, and are supposed to be 

 attracted to the place by their chances of subsisting upon the 

 entrails of rabbits, which are at that season killed by the tacks- 

 man, and disembowelled previous to being sent on shore. The 

 peregrine falcon, which is not uncommon, still breeds there, 

 and from his great powers of flight regales himself and young 

 with prey not obtainable on the rock, though the supply is 

 ample. The kestrel, the white owl, and short-eared owl are 

 also natives of the rock. The raven and carrion crow, though 

 systematically shot at, maintain their ground, and bring up 

 their families upon the eggs and callow young of the sea-fowl, 

 long after they have quitted the nest. The corn-crake is 

 occasionally seen with its brood, and the thrush and blackbird 

 both build their nests in the old castle ruins, and among the 

 rocks, at an elevation of 500 or 600 feet. The wheatear is a 

 familiar tenant, and the snipe and woodcock are both common 

 at certain seasons. 



Of the gulls there are found breeding on the grass-covered 

 summit five or six species — the kittiwake being, perhaps, the 

 most numerous. The greater and lesser black-backed gulls 

 are also abundant, as well as the common gull (Lams canus), 

 and the herring gull, all of which keep within their own 

 territories, the sanctity of which, however, is occasionally 

 outraged by their piratical visitors the skuas. The Iceland 

 gull is the rarest of the family ; it is, however, seen in small 

 numbers every summer, and is well known to the keeper. 

 On warm summer evenings I have observed this bird feeding 

 after dusk ; and during the day, indeed, it is constantly dozing 

 upon rocks at the foot of the craig, near the water. Tho 

 ringed guillemot (JJria laehrymans) is not uncommon. I have 

 never had any difficulty in obtaining this species from the 

 keeper, who goes in search of it when wanted, and selects his 

 bird, cleverly snaring it with a hair-nooee on the end of a pole. 

 The little .-mk ( Mrrijnlns alle) 1ms been seen in summer, and the 

 Btorm petrel breeds under tho loose stones at the base of the 

 clifSfl, On dull days I bave seen ilie bird issuing from these 

 retreats at mid-day, following our boat two or three miles 

 towards the mainland. 



