94 



The Xaturalist. 



The male bird does not assist in incubation, nor does he feed the 

 hen when sitting. If the young bird is hatched, and the female killed, 

 he will, however, continue to bring up the nestlings. 



There are now three sets of cliff-climbers who obtain their livelihood 

 during the season by plundering the sea-fowl on these cliffs. Many 

 of the eggs find their way to the egg collectors and curiosity shops, 

 some are eaten and used in cookery ; and it is said tons are sent to 

 Leeds, where they are used (the albumen) in the process of manu- 

 facturing patent leather. This wholesale destruction is much to be 

 regretted. No eggs should be taken after the first of June. The 

 weight of a full sized guillemot is about 24oz., the egg between three 

 and four. 



Scattered about, either singly or in small communities on the cliffs, 

 are numerous razorbills. Theii? habits are much the same as the guille- 

 mot ; they lay one egg, either wi the ledge or cleft in the cliff. The 

 young bird is also carried down to the sea by the parent birds. Both 

 the male and the female bird assist in incubation. Mr. Edward 

 McCarron, the light-keeper on the Traraght Rock, off the Blasket 

 Island, Tralee, states in his report for 1882-83, Irish Stations — " The 

 parent birds relieve each other while hatching. I actually saw a 

 razorbill come up to another which was on the egg, peck it, when off 

 it went, and the new comer took its place. The razorbill is a more 

 active bird on the wing than the guillemot." 



Of puffins there are large numbers on these cliffs. They lay one egg^ 

 which is, as a rule, placed in some hollow or crevice in the rock. 

 Sometimes several puffins may be found in one hole ; both the cock 

 and hen sit alternately. When the young is hatched, it is fed by the 

 parents until such time as it is able to fly down to the water. The 

 old birds carry sprats, syle, and sand-eels in their beak up to the rock ; 

 they hold them dangling on each side of the bill, suspended like a grey 

 fringe or beard. A puffin will thus carry easily from 20 to 30 small 

 fish or eels. They are grasped between the nose and eyes, and held 

 much in the same manner as when a knife is struck into an apple. 

 Even when the puffin is shot they do not fall out, but remain firmly 

 attached to the sides of the beak. I have frequently seen puffins fishing 

 for prey at great distances from their nesting quarter. At Barra Head 

 it is said to go fifty miles for its food ; the necessity therefore, of 

 carrying a considerable supply at once becomes apparent. 



The kittiwake nests in some numbers on the Bempton cliffs. The 

 nest is a slight cavity of mud and sea-weed beaten and trampled 

 together, lined with finer materials, as dry grass, and often placed on 

 such a narrow ledge as to leave scarce room for the bird to turn 



