8S0 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



that the Manx Shearwater comes in March and leaves in 

 Aug-ust. 



Fidmarus glacialis (Fulmar). 



This bird, as is well known, nests in enormous numbers 

 in every part of St. Kilda, and constitutes a valuable source 

 of profit to the natives. "Whilst breeding in great numbers 

 on the main island, and plentifully enough on Dun and 

 Boreray, and many of the stacks, one must go to Soay to 

 realise the full extent of Fulmar life. I have already 

 referred to the immense multitudes of these birds which 

 breed in that island, especially along the magnificent 

 rampart of cliffs which constitute its northern face, and I 

 have no hesitation in expressing my opinion that there 

 are more Fulmars in the island of Soay than in the whole 

 of the rest of the St. Kildan group pul together. The bird 

 appeared to nest indifferently both on grassy slopes and 

 ledges, amidst and below the el ill's, and upon ledges and 

 between angles of bare rock, especially where the cliff face 

 was a good deal broken up into large rock nia>ses and 

 platforms, wherever, indeed, there was a sufficient extent 

 of flat surface upon which to form the scanty nest. This 

 nest consisted of a shallow saucer-like depression turned 

 in the peaty soil, or a still shallower depression amongst 

 the detritus of the rocks ; this depression was in many 

 cases completely unlined, the egg resting on the bare 

 peaty soil, but it was more usual to find the cavity con- 

 taining a little dry herbage, frequently small dry tufts of 

 sea-thrift (Armeria), and also some small flat fragments of 

 stone. When the nest was placed amidst bare rocks, it was 

 very usual to find the shallow cavily lined with these little 

 flat pieces of stone, often mere flakes, which had obviously 

 been collected by the bird; but when the nesting cavity 

 was formed on the herbage-covered ledges and grassy 



