THE BIRDS OF SCILLY. 301 



Cormorants nest in considerable numbers on the outer rocky 

 islets, shifting their breeding stations more or less completely 

 from year to year. In 1901 there was a large colony, for ex- 

 ample, on Inner Innisvouls, another on Mincarlo, a third on 

 Meledgan, and a fourth on Rosevean. In 1902 only three nests 

 were found on Inner Innisvouls, but there was a big colony on 

 Outer Innisvouls, another on Menawethan, and several nests on 

 Hanjague. Mincarlo was deserted, but there was a group on 

 Castle Bryher, a little cluster on Rosevean, and a new colony on 

 Meledgan. In 1903 there was not a single nest on Menawethan, 

 and none were noticed on Outer Innisvouls or Castle Bryher, and 

 only five on Rosevean. Inner Innisvouls, however, was again 

 thickly populated, and there was a large colony on Meledgan, 

 and one of twenty-nine nests on Roseveare. Shags are much 

 more abundant than Cormorants, and breed in great numbers on 

 all the outer rocks not washed by the sea, and also in small 

 numbers on Annett. The Gannet may be seen on the open sea 

 round Scilly at all times of the year, but rarely comes among 

 the islands, except in very stormy weather. One, however, was 

 captured asleep on St. Helen's Pool on the afternoon of an un- 

 usually calm day in May, 1903. The Heron frequents the 

 islands all the year round. The flat-topped Stack Rock between 

 Tresco and St. Martin's, and the curious double-peaked islet of 

 Guthers between St. Martin's and St. Mary's can almost always 

 show a bird or two, especially in the afternoon. Twenty to 

 thirty Herons at a time on one of these favoured spots is by no 

 means unusual, and Jackson has counted as many as sixty. 

 They occasionally fish in the Tresco ponds at night, and their 

 loud call is not infrequently heard from the Abbey terrace on 

 still evenings. Most if not all the birds are immature, and none 

 have been found breeding, or attempting to do so. It was 

 reported four years ago that a pair was building on the cliffs on 

 Inner Innisvouls, but, though two birds may have been frequently 

 seen there together in the months of April and May, no trace of 

 a nest could be found. A Purple Heron in rufous immature 

 plumage was shot by Dorrien-Smith on St. Mary's Moors on 

 Aug. 30th, 1878. Another, also an immature bird, was seen on 

 Tresco, and afterwards secured at St. Mary's in April, 1898. On 

 Nov. 5th, 1858, a Mr. Fylton shot at a Heron on the shore at 



