Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/500

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THE ZOOLOGIST.

Chough (Pyrrhocorax gracidus).—Numerous and tame. Some were always to be seen feeding in the grass-fields near the farm. One of the coast-gullies ends in a long dark cave, in a hole in the roof of which was a nest. This is a favourite site in the Isle of Man, as elsewhere. Pairs were also evidently breeding elsewhere on the coast.

Jackdaw (Corvus monedula).—A number about the farm.

Hooded Crow (C. cornix).—We observed several.

Raven (C. corax).—We saw five together, no doubt a family of the year.

Rook (C. frugilegus).—One seen flying towards the main island.

Sky-Lark (Alauda arvensis).—One or two noticed.

Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus).—We several times saw one, and once two together.

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus).—One seen. We were shown an egg which a few days before had been taken on a ledge on the rocky side of the Glen.

Peregrine Falcon (F. peregrinus).—One twice rose from a gully on the coast, where a few sticks of an old nest were to be seen.

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo).—There is a small settlement on the cliffs, a number of nests being placed near together on ledges just under the edge of the brow, and others at a little distance more widely scattered. In the heat the old birds sat with gaping mouths on the great whitened structures, which were very conspicuous. In some nests were young, which could be heard calling; while in others were fresh eggs.

Shag (P. graculus).—Abundant, and nests in many places. Some nests, instead of being close to the water, were high up the broken and stony brows, completely hidden under great masses of sloping rock.

Gannet (Sula bassana).—One seen in the Sound. At this season it is frequent round the whole Manx coast.

Common Sheld-Duck (Tadorna cornuta).—A pair near a little pond.

Partridge (Perdix cinerea).—We found some feathers: probably the bird had been killed by a Falcon.

[Land-Rail (Crex pratensis).—We did not hear any, but were told that it inhabits the islet.]

Waterhen (Gallinula chloropus).—Near the mouth of the Glen is a small dam, connected with a disused mill in ruins. In a hole in the bank of this was a Waterhen's nest, and we saw on the dam the mother bird with five downy young. When the nest was built there would be no cover on the water, but the foundation of another seemed to be commenced among a little low vegetation now springing up.

Lapwing (Vanellus vulgaris).—Fairly abundant on some waste ground