i8g4.] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



33 



stuffed for Lord Delamere, who shot it on "Petty-pool," Delamere 

 Forest. 



Eider Duck {Somateria mollis simd), known in the North as " Dunter 

 Duck," were to be often seen in flocks swimming about at the N. W, 

 corner of the Skerry, in fact all the species of birds had their respective 

 haunts in various parts of the island. Unlike all the other duck tribe, 

 they frequent the sea, and occasionally the large freshwater lakes. The 

 nests are usually composed of a foundation of sea weed or grass, and 

 then lined with the beautiful light elastic down, known as the eider- 

 down ; this is plucked from the breast of the duck, and is used to cover 

 the eggs as well as to line the nest. The down of commerce is obtained 

 by robbing the nests, which is usually done twice ; after a second 

 robbing, the drake has to help his partner to line the nest, and as his 

 down is said to be scarcely so valuable as the duck's, the third set of eggs 

 are left in their warm shelter to continue their species. The eggs are a 

 bluish green, and about the same size as those of the domestic duck. 

 The newly hatched duckling, like their domestic cousins, take at once to 

 the water ; as, however, the nests are occasionally placed on inaccessible 

 ledges, the old birds take the young on their back one at a time, and 

 safely carry them down to the water. 



The other birds seen by one of the men (who is a naturalist), and not 

 known to have built there, are : — 



1. Rock Pipit (Anthus obscurus). 



2. Curlew Sandpiper (Tringa subarquata). 



3. Turnstone (Strepsilas inter pres). 



4. Three Sand Martins (Cotile riparia). 



5. Stonechat (Pratincola rubicola). 



6. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla melanope). 



7. Siskin (Chrysomitris spinus). 



8. Redwing (Turdus iliacus^. 



9. Heron {Ardea cinerea) and Gannet {Sula bassana) or " Solon Goose." 



The latter bird densely populates the Stack Island, which lies 4-f miles 

 away nearer to Cape Wrath. It is a bold rock standing out of the sea 

 130 feet high, and on a sunny day, at a distance, looks like a ship in 

 full sail, owing to the droppings of these birds making it appear white. 



The Skerry belonged to Mr. Heddle, of Melsetter, Hoy, who owns 

 that island and the adjacent Island of Graemsay also ; he claimed the 

 Sule Skerry because he owned the nearest land across the shallowest sea ; 

 his claim was admitted, and the Skerry was purchased from him by the 

 Commissioners of Northern Lights, in whom the ownership is now vested. 



We left the Skerry at mid-day on August 13th, on the return journey ; 

 we had great difficulty in getting off the Skerry, owing to the usual heavy 

 swell. Nothing of interest happened, except that I saw a few caaing 



