ARCTIC TERN.
over the rocks nod swept theni out to sea. The lower portion of this rough and Weather-beaten
structure is now used as a storehouse by the custodian of the birds, and at the time of my visit
thousands of eggs were packed away in boxes, ready for conveyance to North Sunderland, Holy Island,
and various villages along the coast. It is necessary to charge an exceedingly low price fur the commonest
of the eggs, as the fishermen are by these means induced lo become purchasers; otherwise they would
land and, searching indiscriminately to help themselves, cause endless destruction. Four eggs of the
Cormorant and three of the Guillemot and Lesser Black-backed Gull are sold for a penny, while those
of Eiders, Terns, Herring-Gulls, Kltliwukes, and the other species fetch as much as two or three pence each—
the former being consumed for food by the native population, and the latter coming into the possession
of dealers.
To the best of my knowledge, the following is a correct list of the birds that resorted to these islands
for breeding-purposes at the time of my last visit in 1S07; with the changes that may have taken
place of late years I am utterly unacquainted.
ROCK-l'l PIT.—A few pairs were nesting among the old buildings.
RINGEU PLOVER.—I noticed the eggs of this species on several of these islands; and numbers of the
birds were Hying about the rocks.
OYSTER-CATCH En.—Several birds were seen, some in small parties of three or four; Darling, the egggathcrcr,
however, was of opinion that only about twelve pairs were nesting this season.
8UELE~DLCK,—A few pairs breed on the islands, and several frequent the Magstoue, a rock about a
mile to the north.
ElDER.— Large flocks composed of birds in various stages of plumage, the drakes predominating, were
rcsfing quietly on the water in the sheltered bays. The ducks, I ascertained, were sitting on several of
the islands; and the men pointed out three or four nests that had been constructed among the rank plants
and rough grass against the wall round the old lighthouse, now used for storing and packing the eggs
taken for sale. These birds, owing to the constant passing to and fro of the egg-collector and his
assistants, bad become so confiding that they showed not the slightest fear, even when closely inspected
by strangers.
COMMON GUILLEMOT.—Immense numbers lay their eggs on the summit of the Pinnacles, and a few
frequent two or three of the other rocky islefs. Several of the ringed form are to be seen intermixed
with the crowds assembled on the rocks, when their ranks ore closely inspected.
PtrrriN.—Breeds on some of the islands where the soft mould enables them to scrape out their own
domiciles, and also on others where they make use of the rabbil-burrows.
RASIHIBILL.—I only observed a single bird sifting on her egg, and Darling informed me that there was
but one pair this season; in former times, however, as at the Bass Ruck, they were numerous.
CORMORANT.—There seemed to be, so far as I was able to judge, about one hundred nests on one of
the rocky islands, the highest being perhaps twenty feet above high-water mark. These birds were stated
to change their breeding-quarters every season.
SHAG.—This species I learned had always bred at the Pinnacles till the present season; a pair were
now about the islands, but it appeared uncertain whether they had as yet commenced nesting-operations.
SANDWICH TEHN.—There were three large colonics on different islands, their breeding-quarters
adjoining those of the Arctic Terns.
ROSEATE TERN.—Stated by the egg-gatherer to have been not uncommon a few years back. Only
a single bird, which I obtained, seen during my visit to the islands; this specimen proved to be a female,
evidently sitting at the time.
ARCTIC TERN.—Very numerous this season; in addition to three largo there were two small colonies.
ARCTIC TERN.
LESSKU BLACK-RACKED GI'LL.—Large numbers breed in colonies on several of the islands.
IIERRIKO-GUI.I,.—Exceedingly scarce; but three or four pairs had taken up their quarters this season.
KITTJWAKE.—A few pairs were nesting in the cracks and crevices of the Pinnacles, immediately
below the stations occupied by the Guillemots.
Sinco my last visit to this part of the coast, I have met with statements, in several ornithological
works, to the effect that flic Common Tern nested on the islands. As this species, however, escaped
identification, though the whole or the Terns were most carefully watched and examined with powerful
glasses fur three successive days, I do not include it in the list of breeding birds that came under my
observation.
The colouring of beaks and legs is seldom alluded to in 'Rough Notes;' the few particulars,
however, concerning their various changes to which attention is about to he drawn may not bo out or
place, as from repeated observations I ascertained that the tints of the soft parts, especially in young
birds, commence to fade immediately after death; and it is by no means a certainty to liml them
accurately described or depicted in even the most trustworthy works on natural history. The plum ige,
beak, and legs of an Arctic Tern shot on the Dili or August, 1*73, in Yarmouth Roads, may be described
as follow*:—Crown of head black, thickly speckled with white on forehead; breast, back, and wings of
the moal adult tints, though somewhat faded and worn; a dark lino was also showing across the
shoulders of the wings. Beak very deep claret, almost black; legs dark brown with a shade of red.
Whether this specimen was an adult undergoing the change into winter plumage, or exhibiting the last
stage before arriving at maturity, I am unable to offer an opinion. A young bird shut the same day
did not show the lawny orange shade on the breast observed on the juveniles at the Fern Islands in
June. The base of both mandibles was a pah- fle.h-tinl, the ridge of the upper, and ihe points of bulb
upper and lower, black; legs and feet a pale yellowish tlesb-colour, nails black. Another in the same
stage of plumage, obtained iu Shoreham harbour on the 17th of August, lfss;t, corresponded in every
particular in the colouring of the soft parts. Several adults and immature birds of this species procured,
for purposes of examination, along ihe shore near l.auciug, on September 1st, lsS2, are referred to in my
notes ; and I find the following description of the colouring of the beak and legs of one of the juveniles:—
Ridge of upper mandible and point black; point of lower blaek, this colour extending halfway up; base
of both mandibles pale reddish flesh. Legs and toes pale Indian red ; webs a darker tint of same colour;
nails black.