228 
ALCIDiE. 
logists, generally mention one fish only as borne by the puffin at 
a time. 
Other species are seen as we proceed, though some which 
nidify at particular parts of the rocks and in caves, do not come 
in view from the summit of the range of cliffs. The common 
guillemot ( JJria troile ) breeds in profusion ; the black guil- 
lemot ( Urm grylle ), in its usual comparative numbers to the 
former ; the lesser and greater black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus 
and L. marinus ), both of which came under our notice, are said 
to build here. The common gull ( L . canus), too, probably nidifies, 
from the circumstance of adult birds (with bright yellow legs) 
being now here, of which we shot two or three, to make sure of 
the species, as they flew up from the face of the cliffs. The shag, 
or green cormorant ( Phalacrocorax graculus), is stated by the 
gamekeeper to breed, perhaps to the number of three hundred, 
and, different from the common species,* to build out of sight, 
within the clefts of rocks. t 
* Two gentlemen, wlio went round the base of the rocks about the 10th of June, 
stated, that they saw both species of cormorant sitting on their nests within the 
caves. 
f The following information, which is generally, if not critically correct, was 
supplied by the gamekeeper and another person well acquainted with the birds here. 
The razorbill, puffin, and common guillemot arrive at the same time (in March) 
and depart about “ lammas ” (12th August) ; — the first-named breeds about the 12th 
of May. Each species lays one egg, which, as to size, colour, &c., was correctly 
described ; the razorbill’s is laid in crevices as well as on the open shelves of rock * 
the puffin’s is deposited on dried sea- weeds under stones or in rabbit-holes, always out 
of sight, and sometimes beyond reach ; the guillemot’s is laid in clefts or on open 
flags. The eggs of the black guillemot are laid under stones out of sight and reach ; 
the bird itself remains during the year. The greater and lesser black-backed gulls 
breed here, make large nests, and, like the herring-gull and kittiwake, lay three 
eggs each ; — the common gull had not been satisfactorily distinguished from the 
others by the persons questioned. The eggs of all the gulls were described of a 
“ brownish-green colour with black ticks,” differing in size according to the re- 
lative dimensions of the birds. Common cormorants breed in company on open 
flags in May, laying three eggs ; the shag lays in the same month in clefts of 
rock out of sight. Of the following four species, the common guillemot is said to 
breed nearest to the water, the razorbill next, kittiwake third, and puffin fourth. 
This may be generally correct, but it does not accord with my own limited observa- 
tion at the locality, which was unfortunately confined to what could be seen from 
the summit of the cliffs. Although the weather during the week I spent there 
was remarkably fine, the circumstance of the little wind that there was, blowing 
upon the land, rendered it imprudent, according to the boatmen, to attempt going 
