T. H. NELSON: A RAMBLE ON THE FARNE ISLANDS. II9 



I wore a leather glove, or my hand would have suffered from the 

 sharp ploughshare-like beak of the angry bird. Towards the east side 

 the island rises to a height of about forty feet, and is there bare of 

 soil ; a chasm some twenty feet wide intervenes between the island 

 and four flat-topped rocks, each apparently about twenty to thirty 

 feet square — some one remarked that they looked as though a giant 

 had taken a huge axe and spht a sHce from the edge of the island, 

 and then divided the detached portion into quarters — the tops of 

 these rocks, the far-famed ' Pinnacles,' were literally covered with 

 Guillemots, sitting as close together as they could pack, each bird 

 brooding over its solitary egg. We could detect a few Razor-bills 

 {Alca torda) and Ringed Guillemots amongst the crowds of birds in 

 front of us, while down the sides of the Pinnacles, on every accessible 

 ledge, a graceful little Kittiwake {Rissa tridadyld) was sitting on its 

 nest. The Guillemots took little notice of our presence, but bowed 

 and chattered incessantly, keeping up an uninterrupted conversation 

 amongst themselves. Visitors are not allowed to climb the Pinnacles, 

 and this feat can only be accomplished by means of a ladder ; but 

 the watcher periodically takes the eggs during certain weeks of the 

 breeding season. The eggs of the Kittiwakes can only be reached by 

 means of a net placed at the end of a long pole, and, according to 

 what we heard from the watcher, they are not often disturbed. 



Thinking we could not find a more romantic or suitable spot for 

 luncheon, we had the hamper brought up from the boat, and, seating 

 ourselves on the rocks facing the Pinnacles, proceeded to refresh the 

 inner man. 



The sight of the birds on the Pinnacles is one well worth the 

 journey to the Fames to see, and although there are other bird- 

 nurseries where more rock-breeding fowl are to be seen, yet I doubt 

 if, at any place on the English coast, their habits can be studied 

 from a closer point of view than on the Staples. There we were, 

 seated within a few yards of this noisy, moving mass of Guillemots, 

 so near that we could throw a biscuit amongst them, and yet, 

 apparently undisturbed by our presence, they sat contentedly on their 

 eggs and pursued their daily avocations as though no one were near. 

 There was a constant stream of arrivals and departures going on, 

 each new comer being greeted with loud croaks, whether of welcome 

 or disapprobation we could not determine. All the time we remained 

 on the Staples swarms of Puffins flew round us in a most eccentric 

 manner, describing large circles ; seemingly never tiring, they pursued 

 each other round and round the south side of the island, apparently 

 enjoying themselves immensely. I presume they meant it for play ; 

 indeed, it reminded me very much of the manner in which Swifts 



April 1887. 



