Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/478

408 of the Oystercatchers had young along the edge of the crags. On the sand at Redwharf Bay were a number of Sheld-Ducks, which were breeding in an adjacent warren; here, too, on the shingle were a few pairs of Ringed Plovers, a species which was nesting in several places on the low-lying coast between Penmon and Beaumaris.

At one place on the cliffs the Swift, which was distributed throughout the district, was nesting in some numbers; and at the same spot a colony of about thirty pairs of House-Martins had their nests on the precipitous limestone rock-face. The House-Martin, unlike the Swallow, was by no means common; indeed, we did not meet with any in that part of the district south-west of Menai Bridge. The Sand-Martin, too, was not plentiful, but a few pairs were nesting in the low marl-cliffs between Penmon and Beaumaris.

Half a mile north-east of Penmon Point lies Priestholm, or Puffin, an island, rising some two hundred feet above the sea, bounded by rugged limestone cliffs. "On this island," according to Willughby, "build the Anates Arcticæ of Clussius (here called Puffins), Razorbills, Guilliams, Cormorants, and divers sorts of Gulls." On June 6th we visited the island, where we found the "divers sorts" to be three species—Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Kittiwakes. Herring-Gulls, abundant on the cliffs of the mainland, swarmed here; the colonies practically extending round the island. Most of the birds were feeding downy young—some of them well-grown—but hundreds of nests still contained eggs. The clamour of thousands of voices, and the sight of the cloud of white birds above the blue water was most impressive. On the seaward or northern side of the island there were a few scattered pairs of Lesser Black-backed Gulls amongst the Herring-Gulls, but at the southern extremity they were massed in a large colony, and at this place far outnumbered the other species. Pennant was acquainted with the Lesser Black-backed Gull, for in his 'Zoologia Britannica' (4th edit. 1776–77) he accurately described the bird, which he met with in Anglesea, in his article on the Great Black-backed Gull, although he was undecided whether it was a distinct species or merely a variety of the larger bird. It does not appear, however, to be common during the breeding season in North Wales, and Mr.