GAN NET. 
9 
Puffin. Par more abundant than a stranger would imagine on paying a mid-day visit to the Rock. The 
holes in the masonry of the old fortifications are their quarters. 
Shag. A pair occasionally nest in the east cave ; and some years back I saw them frequenting the 
west side. 
Lesser Black-backed Gull. Seldom more than a pair or two now seen resorting to the Rock during 
the breeding-season. The nests are placed on the grassy slopes near the summit. 
IIerring-Gull. Scarcely more plentiful than the last species, though I have discovered as many as three 
nests in one day while searching the ledges among the detached slabs of stone on the liigher parts of 
the Rock. Many pairs of this Gull and also of the Lesser Black-backed fell victims to the poison 
laid out for the Jackdaws ; they have never regained their former numbers. 
Kittiwake. The most numerous of the Gulls. There are hundreds of nests on the narrow ledges in 
the steep face of the Rock on the north, east, and west sides. 
The above list is made up entirely from my own observations on the Rock between 1862 and 1871. I have 
not visited the locality since the latter year, and prefer to trust only to my own experience. I am aware 
that the Cormorant, Great Black-backed Gull, and Common Gull are reported to have bred on the Rock of late 
years : if such has been the case, I can only state that their nests entirely escaped my notice. 
A few remarks extracted from my notes concerning the Gannets brought from the Bass and reared in 
confinement may supply some information which could scarcely be obtained while studying their habits in a 
wild state. 
“1871, August 19th. Pour young Gannets taken from the Rock. These birds were full-fledged and 
proved exceedingly troublesome to feed. 
“ September 10th. The captive Geese were now more tractable, and took their food when offered to them 
without needing to have it rammed down their throats. I imagine the whiting and haddies with which we 
were obliged to feed them were not so acceptable as the herrings or mackerel usually supplied by their parents ; 
it was, however, impossible to procure other fish at Canty Bay. The amount of phosphoric matter in the 
whiting is very remarkable. Often when passing at night the sheds where the birds were kept, I noticed that 
any fragments of fish left from the previous day, and even the boards on which they had been cut up for the 
small birds (Guillemots), gave out a pale luminous vapour, which seemed to hover round the spot, flickering up 
more brightly from time to time. 
“1875, August. Early in the month received two young Geese from Canty Bay. These were younger 
by at least a fortnight than those taken the previous year, and very shortly became reconciled to confinement. 
“ 1876, August. During the first w'eek two young Geese were sent from Canty Bay. Profiting by the 
experience of former years, birds which were but half-tiedged had been selected, and far less trouble was caused.” 
The various changes of plumage exhibited by the Gaunets in continement during the immature stages can 
readily be traced by an examination of the Plates. 
“ 1879, March. Early in the month a nest was built in the shed to which the birds resorted for shelter 
during the winter months. The structure corresponded precisely with those I have examined on the Bass, 
being composed of seaweed and coarse grass. These materials had been supplied for some weeks, the pair 
having previously attracted attention by collecting sticks and feathers, as well as tearing up the grass 
round their enclosure. It was seldom that the nest was deserted by both birds, one or other being almost 
always on guard. 
“ May 4th. The female had continued on the nest for some days, and it was at last discovered she was 
covering an egg. After sitting five or six days the youuger birds succeeded in dragging away some of the 
materials and smashed the egg. The nest was reconstructed immediately ; but though the bird continued 
sitting for several days, it was eventually deserted. 
