Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/172

148 far short of upright, i.e. the back of the tarsus forms a very large angle, although not quite a right angle, with the ground the Puffin stands on, if that ground is level. But the angle of the tarsus with the ground varies considerably, as also does the angle of the line of the bird's body and the ground; but, roughly speaking, the tarsus is far more nearly upright than horizontal. It is possible that if Puffins are seen which seem to be, for the moment, resting on the tarsus, they are birds which have paused in the act of raising themselves from a recumbent position. In no other way can I account for the impression that I had acquired. I noticed many Puffins among the crowd which were sitting about their burrows lying down on their breasts like Ducks, and basking in the warm sunshine. But the Puffin undoubtedly walks and stands on its feet alone, and not on its feet and tarsi like a Guillemot. St. Tudwal's Islands have long been celebrated locally for their Puffins. The Rev. William Bingley, who in the summer of 1798 sailed round the coast from Carnarvon to Pwllheli, and, after vainly attempting to land on Bardsey Island, sighted these islands, records that a considerable sum of money was annually made of them as Puffin-warrens. The same author remarks on the variety of Sea-fowl inhabiting the cliffs of Lleyn, and adds that in one part he could observe some hundreds of Martins flitting along the black cliffs and caverns in pursuit of flies and other insects for their young. These were possibly Sand-Martins, which are now remarkably common in some places.

Like Bingley, I was prevented by stormy weather from getting to Bardsey Island; but on May 16th, with the aid of four strong rowers, I got out to Ynys Gwylan fawr and Ynys Gwylan fâch. These "Gull Islands" are formed of the same hard rock as the point off which they lie. On the east the sides are formed of broken step-like jagged rock, up which you climb or walk, if you find the right place. The larger island carries fair grass on the top, with a quantity of sea-pink and scurvy-grass (Cochlearia). In the middle is a rocky peak. There were a good many Puffin-holes, and a good many birds, with some Guillemots and Razorbills, sat on the sea; but there were none ashore, being unusually late on account of the stormy weather. Many Herring-Gulls were breeding, and I found a number of nests placed on shelves and in hollows among the rocks, usually, but not always, where