. The birds of Iona & Mull . average diameter of 12 inches, the sides and roof being smoothly polishedby the rubbing of the animals fur in passing out and in; with circular or ovalchambers, in which they rest, occurring at intervals ; and the drainage systemadmirably adapted to carry off superfluous water ; and the rejectamenta of theirfeasts carefully disposed in a side chamber a foot or more from the entrance ofthe tunnel. Such a habitation we ourselves have seen in Soay.—Ed. 48 THE BIRDS OF IONA AND MULL. use their hooked bills to pull themselves up with: it seems to beof more service to th
. The birds of Iona & Mull . average diameter of 12 inches, the sides and roof being smoothly polishedby the rubbing of the animals fur in passing out and in; with circular or ovalchambers, in which they rest, occurring at intervals ; and the drainage systemadmirably adapted to carry off superfluous water ; and the rejectamenta of theirfeasts carefully disposed in a side chamber a foot or more from the entrance ofthe tunnel. Such a habitation we ourselves have seen in Soay.—Ed. 48 THE BIRDS OF IONA AND MULL. use their hooked bills to pull themselves up with: it seems to beof more service to them than their claws. As might be expected from their great length of wing theycannot spring up quickly into the air; when one is allowed toescape from the hand, he runs rapidly along the ground for severalyards with the wings in motion before he can get fairly started ;but if he meets with any declivity, he throws himself off andswoops away to his ocean home. Within the limited space ofa room their wings are quite The Petrel is also found breeding at Stafia, and at least at one ofthe Treshnish Islands, though I have no doubt they frequent all ofthem. Here their nesting-places are very different from those atSoay, for they make their nests under the large stones on the beaches are composed of blocks of basalt, about the size ofa hat, and are considerably raised above the sea level. They seemnever to have been much exposed to the action of the waves, for LETTER II. 49 these large stones are rugged and angular, consequently lyingloosely together, easily allowing the mouse-like Petrel to penetratethe numerous interstices, and to circulate freely a long way belowthe surface, just as we see a Wren, chased by a dog, taking refugein a dry stone dike; and while the dog keeps watching the holeat which he entered, in a moment the Wren hops out of the dikea gun-shot further on, and chirps a feeble insult at his would be impossible ever to discover the Pet
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