in the interior, and probably comparatively more numerous here than on the main island.
Oystercatcher (Hæmatopus ostralegus).—Common round the coast, especially among the low-tide rocks of the Sound. A pair were evidently nesting on the rough grassy land near the small pond where the Sheld-Ducks were, and we saw some eggs which had been taken shortly before on the turfy margin of the rocks.
Herring-Gull (Larus argentatus).—The dominant bird of the Calf. Nests in abundance almost all round it, sometimes on the hill-sides at a little distance back from the cliff, but not in the interior of the islet. On the southern promontories, where the turf consists chiefly of seapink, the nests were large brown structures formed of the torn-up tufts. Most nests had three eggs or newly-hatched young. In one were a few mangled beetles (Carabus nemoralis, Barynotus elevatus), and in another some small worms, evidently intended for the first food of the young.
Lesser Black-backed Gull (L. fuscus).—Numbers with L. argentatus in certain places, but not so well distributed. Some of their nests had many feathers mixed with the structure. We did not identify any nests with young as belonging to this species, which lays later than the Herring-Gull. Numbers breed on the isolated Burrow and Stack.
Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla).—One colony, not large (described Zool. 1894, p. 166). Laying had not yet commenced, though the birds spent much time in unfinished nests on little ledges and projections of the sheer cliff.
Razorbill (Alca torda).—Well distributed and abundant, but does not crowd to the same extent as the next species. Some eggs seen.
Common Guillemot (Uria troile).—Very abundant at Kione Rouayr, and on the western cliffs, on narrow ledges. They lay later than the Razorbill, and we noticed no eggs.
Puffin (Fratercula arctica).—In places there are large colonies, as at Kione Rouayr, and among rock-rubbish under the western cliffs. In May the Puffin was not very much in evidence, though we saw some carrying straws and other nesting material; but when Ralfe again visited the Calf, on July 5th, it was astonishingly numerous and tame.
