148 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



far short of upright, i.e. the back of the tarsus forms a very large 

 angle, although not quite a right angle, with the ground the 

 Puffin stands on, if that ground is level. But the angle of the 

 tarsus with the ground varies considerably, as also does the angle 

 of the line of the bird's body and the ground ; but, roughly 

 speaking, the tarsus is far more nearly upright than horizontal. 

 It is possible that if Puffins are seen which seem to be, for the 

 moment, resting on the tarsus, they are birds which have paused 

 in the act of raising themselves from a recumbent position. In 

 no other way can I account for the impression that I had acquired. 

 I noticed many Puffins among the crowd which were sitting about 

 their burrows lying down on their breasts like Ducks, and basking 

 in the warm sunshine. But the Puffin undoubtedly walks and 

 stands on its feet alone, and not on its feet and tarsi like a 

 Guillemot. St. Tudwal's Islands have long been celebrated 

 locally for their Puffins. The Rev. William Bingley, who in 

 the summer of 1798 sailed round the coast from Carnarvon to 

 Pwllheli, and, after vainly attempting to land on Bardsey Island, 

 sighted these islands, records that a considerable sum of money 

 was annually made of them as Puffin-warrens. The same author 

 remarks on the variety of Sea-fowl inhabiting the cliffs of Lleyn, 

 and adds that in one part he could observe some hundreds of 

 Martins flitting along the black cliffs and caverns in pursuit of 

 flies and other insects for their young. These were possibly 

 Sand-Martins, which are now remarkably common in some places. 

 Like Bingley, I was prevented by stormy weather from getting 

 to Bardsey Island ; but on May 16th, with the aid of four strong 

 rowers, I got out to Ynys Gwylan fawr and Ynys Gwylan fach. 

 These " Gull Islands " are formed of the same hard rock as the 

 point off which they lie. On the east the sides are formed of 

 broken step-like jagged rock, up which you climb or walk, if you 

 find the right place. The larger island carries fair grass on the 

 top, with a quantity of sea-pink and scurvy-grass (Cochlearia). 

 In the middle is a rocky peak. There were a good many Puffin- 

 holes, and a good many birds, with some Guillemots and Razor- 

 bills, sat on the sea ; but there were none ashore, being unusually 

 late on account of the stormy weather. Many Herring-Gulls 

 were breeding, and I found a number of nests placed on shelves 

 and in hollows among the rocks, usually, but not always, where 



