424 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



feeling those — to put it mildly — quieting effects of open water. 

 I was on the look-out for Richardson's Skua (Stercorarius crepi- 

 datus), for I had seen one off this point in 1900 ; but this year I 

 was not so fortunate. We anchored on the 30th in the lee of the 

 island in Loch Airlort. Shortly after we let go, I noticed some 

 Sheld-Ducks (Tadorna cornuta) flying about, and looking beautiful 

 in the sunlight. On the island we found nests of Herring-Gulls 

 (Larus argentatus), which are much neater than those of the 

 Lesser Black-backed Gull. The eggs are about half an inch 

 longer, and much more handsomely marked. On this island 

 there is a very good example of a vitrified fort, showing clearly 

 the bubbles of molten stone. 



We reached Glenelg on the 31st, and while walking close to 

 the stony beach came on some Ringed Plover (Mgialitis hiati- 

 cula) running to and fro, and calling to each other. We watched 

 them for a long time with glasses, and then approached them 

 to see if they had a nest ; they came quite close, getting very 

 excited. Suddenly we heard something squeaking close beside 

 us, and we looked about for some time, but could see nothing. At 

 last I noticed a little ball of down among the stones ; it was grey 

 on the back, with white tips to the wings, white under parts, and 

 a black strip from the beak to the back of the head. So like was 

 this young Ringed Plover to the stones amongst which it was 

 standing, that whenever I took my eyes off, it was quite diffi- 

 cult to pick up again, although I knew the spot where it ought 

 to be. All the time the old birds were running about whistling, 

 and occasionally one of them would fall over on its breast, spread 

 out the tail, extend the wings, and flap about like a wounded 

 bird ; then stretch its wings straight up, as if in the last agonies 

 of death. It would let me approach within three or four yards, 

 then get up and fly away to some other part of the beach. We 

 found some more birds of this species at Gairloch. 



On the 4th of June we landed on the Ascrib Islands, west 

 coast of Skye ; they were almost covered with Puffins (Fratercula 

 arctica), especially round their breeding-places. We walked to 

 the edge of the small cliffs, and found the earth on the top 

 riddled with burrows. Some we opened up were about two or 

 three feet long, with a little heap of grass at the end ; on this is 

 laid the one white egg, which soon gets very dirty. The earth- 



