Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/494

424 feeling those—to put it mildly—quieting effects of open water. I was on the look-out for Richardson's Skua (Stercorarius crepidatus), for I had seen one off this point in 1900; but this year I was not so fortunate. We anchored on the 30th in the lee of the island in Loch Airlort. Shortly after we let go, I noticed some Sheld-Ducks (Tadorna cornuta) flying about, and looking beautiful in the sunlight. On the island we found nests of Herring-Gulls (Larus argentatus), which are much neater than those of the Lesser Black-backed Gull. The eggs are about half an inch longer, and much more handsomely marked. On this island there is a very good example of a vitrified fort, showing clearly the bubbles of molten stone.

We reached Glenelg on the 31st, and while walking close to the stony beach came on some Ringed Plover (Ægialitis hiaticula) running to and fro, and calling to each other. We watched them for a long time with glasses, and then approached them to see if they had a nest; they came quite close, getting very excited. Suddenly we heard something squeaking close beside us, and we looked about for some time, but could see nothing. At last I noticed a little ball of down among the stones; it was grey on the back, with white tips to the wings, white under parts, and a black strip from the beak to the back of the head. So like was this young Ringed Plover to the stones amongst which it was standing, that whenever I took my eyes off, it was quite difficult to pick up again, although I knew the spot where it ought to be. All the time the old birds were running about whistling, and occasionally one of them would fall over on its breast, spread out the tail, extend the wings, and flap about like a wounded bird; then stretch its wings straight up, as if in the last agonies of death. It would let me approach within three or four yards, then get up and fly away to some other part of the beach. We found some more birds of this species at Gairloch.

On the 4th of June we landed on the Ascrib Islands, west coast of Skye; they were almost covered with Puffins (Fratercula arctica), especially round their breeding-places. We walked to the edge of the small cliffs, and found the earth on the top riddled with burrows. Some we opened up were about two or three feet long, with a little heap of grass at the end; on this is laid the one white egg, which soon gets very dirty. The earth-