MR. J. H. GURNEY, JUN., ON BIRDS OF THE FARNE ISLANDS. 5o 
The greater part of the Terns and Gulls had already hatched 
their young, and nestlings were to be seen in every stage of 
development, from the chick half out of its shell to the already 
strong swimmer. A broad-brimmed hat is essential for safety, for 
the Arctic Terns employ their artillery of whitewash; and the 
enraged Lesser Black-backed Gulls, usually so wild, seem to have 
laid all fear aside, and swoop fiercely at the daring handler of 
their young. Hewitson says an old woman had her bonnet almost 
torn to pieces by them, which I can well believe from the attacks 
they made on us. 
The Eiders have got up their numbers capitally, and a naturalist 
will find Guillemots and Puffins to his heart’s content. All this 
is a very different state of things from what obtained the last time 
I put pen to paper about old Fame and its birds, when the incessant 
shooting which went on was simply revolting (X. II. S. Glasgow, 
Proc. 1877, p. 2G8). :: ' Mr. Barclay’s efforts to put a stop to indis- 
criminate egging deserve commendation from every true lover of 
birds, and the success with which they have been crowned is 
a good omen for their welfare. 
Eider Duck. 
The largest number of Eiders nest on Wide-Opens, formerly 
spelled Wedums, where the watchers think there were ninety nests 
this summer, as against about seventy-five last. They counted 
sixteen nests on Big Hascar, seven on Brounsman, eight on the 
Staples, twelve on North Wamses, and eight on South Warnses. 
The down, which in Iceland is stated to fetch nineteen shillings 
a pound (Crowe’s ‘ Consular Report ’), is not collected. I took the 
liberty of annexing a pocket-full ; and you will observe its extra- 
ordinary elasticity, and that in colour it is smoky brown with 
many pale spots. The old Eider Duck plucks it from her body 
as incubation proceeds. The picked sample, which it has taken 
me a long time to cleanse of all foreign substances, weighs less 
•For the convenience of others, I may here give references to some 
other papers on the birds of the Fame Islands : — ‘ Century Magazine, 5 
August, 1880; ‘Naturalist,’ April, 1887, and Jauuary, 1SS1 ; ‘Midland 
Naturalist,’ March, 1881; ‘Field,’ July 16th, 1881; Croydon X. H. Trans., 
1882-3 (p. 159); ‘Zoologist,’ 1S66 (pp. 185, 483), and 1876 (p. 493). In 
Pennant’s ‘ Tour in Scotland ’ (vol. i. p. 46) there is an account of his visit 
to the islands in July, 1769. 
