8 
GANNET. 
steal from one another, and an unguarded nest is seldom left long without being systematically and deliberately 
plundered by the neighbouring pairs. Numbers of birds may be noticed at all times during the summer flying 
towards the Ilock, bearing in their beaks large lumps of seaweed, which they have secured floating on the 
water. The materials made use of soon become compressed, owing to the constant weight of one or other of 
the parents, and decompose so rapidly from the effects of the guano, that there is no chance of the quantities 
of rubbish collected ever assuming any excessive bulk. 
The egg is singular in texture and appearance. When fresh-laid it is of a clear white or bluish tint, 
coated here and tliere with a covering of a chalky nature ; the shell rapidly assumes a darker hue, stained by 
the dirt from the nest and discoloured by the filth that clings to the webs of the parents as they waddle over 
the slimy ledges. 
The aspect of the Bass Bock during summer and winter differs considerably. After the departure of the 
birds, the conspicuous stains of the guano rapidly disappear from the face of the cliffs when exposed to the 
force of the winter gales, and a transformation from white to a dark grey at once takes place. 
It may not be out of place to give a list of the birds that usually breed on the Bass. The numbers of 
many species have considerably diminished during the last few years, and others, formerly abundant when 
I was first acquainted with the Bock, had at the time of my last visit almost entirely ceased to put in an 
appearance during the nesting-season. 
Peregrine. A pair not unfrequently attempt to rear their young on the Bock. I am afraid their efforts 
are seldom successful, having noticed them on several occasions making use of very accessible ledges. 
Kestrel. This species is not a regular breeder ; but I have repeatedly seen a pair circling round the 
rocks, and on one occasion obtained a view of the young on a ledge in the deep crevice on the 
west side. 
Jackdaw. These robbers were numerous between twenty and thirty years back, and, having made 
themselves excessively disagreeable by preying on eggs, excited the wrath of the tenant, who thinned 
them down by poison. They formerly nested in the rabbit-burrows near tlie summit and also in 
parts of the buildings. At the time of my last visit they were exceedingly scarce. Though a few 
were reported as breeding, they escaped my notice. 
Bock-Pipit. This Pipit nests in some numbers on the Bass, principally among the old ruins, but in a 
few instances on the ledges on the south side. 
Blackbird. A few pairs of these birds are during most seasons to be found among the buildings. The 
nests are usually placed among the ruins of the old fortifications ; and I also discovered two or three 
during different seasons in a sheltered nook on the west side. A situation was chosen on one occasion 
within a few yards of the eyrie of the Peregrine. 
Shelduck. I saw one clutch of eggs taken off the Bock. The nest was placed in a rabbit-hole in a 
small open piece of ground amongst the lower part of the buildings on the south side. 
Eider. A pair used now and then to lay in sheltered corners among the lower range of buildings. The 
treatment they met with was not encouraging ; and after being robbed for several successive seasons, 
the birds entirely deserted the spot. 
Gannet. By far the most numerous of the summer visitors. 
Common Guillemot. Numbers resort to the Bock ; but as they mostly frequent the higher ledges, a few 
only can be detected from the water. The Binged Guillemot may be seen in small numbers every 
season. 
Bazorbill. Not nearly so plentiful as the Guillemot. These birds have decreased greatly during the 
past few years. Their favourite positions appear to be the higher ledges on the north-west side. 
