Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-19
SCOTCH SEA FOWL.
The Birds of Sgeir Dhubh on Argyle
shire Rock.

From the Scotsman
Or all the birds that find a temporary
lodging on the sgeir Dhubh none are more
Interesting. certainly none are more sub
stantiai looking. than the elder ducks,
which have in recent years greatly in
creased in NUMBER. Twenty years ago an
elder duck was a rare visitant, so rare that
II was almost certain to become a target
for some enthusiastic fowler Not that this
bird Is at all table delicacy 1t carries its
own particular favor to the last, and takes
posthumous revenge on the sportsman who.
having dared to slay 1t, adds insult to In
jury by venturing to eat It. Owing, doubt
less. to the wild birds protection acts.
these fowl have multiplied all down the
Sound of Jura the writer has seen large
hccks Of them between Jura and Islay so
numerous to resemble a company of
wfdgeon IN the distance; and nowadays
there are always two fiocks within
sight of the Sgeir Dhubh.
There is one season more than any other
when the Sgeir Dhubh is a most popular
resort of sea fowl. This season begins on
the arrival Of the herring fry in the loch.
Usually 1t occurs about early autumn, and
the occasion is eagerly looked for by more
than the birds; for in the wake of the her
ring fry follow the mackerel, and the local
fishers who merely tolerate mackerel know
that shoal of more mature herring is
generally close at hand. Countless though
the number of the immature herring may
be. those helpless silvery morsels find life
a tragic ordeal when they enter the loch
Pursued beneath the surface by mackerel
and saithe, whose Gppetttes are Unsuitable
ana also by guiHCmots, whose movements
IN the depths are easy as their efforts
on the surface they rise wildly at times
upward. even leaping madly into the air
u escape their relentless pursuers. But the
air Is as full as danger the water The
sea birds ell know the signs of the herring
fry. Their green eyes recognize promptly
the troubling OF the waters when the sorely
prosecuted fishes seek to escape their woes
In the depths.
At such a season accommoda ton is
scarce on the Sgelr Dhubh; its tenants are
countless. One sees it covered with a mot
ley crowd of gulls great and small. while
scores of terms Hi In the corners. and close
at hand several guillemots are sure to be
cruising expectantly. Presently in the dis
lance a single sea swallow scouting lei
surely, begins to dive with exceeding haste
plunging and plunging again without
pause. Every bird on the Sgeir Dhubh I'M
derstands the sign. There is a hasty
tumult Of wings. and the crowd which a
moment before had been resting decorousy
on. the reef Is hurryins to the spot indi-
Gated. There. while the fry remain near
the surface. a scene of the utmost ANNA
ton is presented. A babel of sea bird voices
fills the air. There Is constant diving and
temperance. A single gunshot into the
heart of the rabble would easily slay a
score Of victims. The larger guIls scorn to
dive. They simply swoop down and pick
up what they can reach, rest on the
water devouring what Is sent. The terms
are holder. They go fearlessly down into
the water. to reappear with silvery morsels
held firmly in their red beaks. The tit-bit
glimmers for a moment, then disappears.
All the while the divers are not idle. Their
work lies mainly out OF sight. For brief
instants they leave the depths to draw
breath and swim along the surface, only to
go down again in haste.
Sometimes an older bird has its half
grown chick In company. Then 1t is beau
tiful to see the parent come up with two
or three tiny herrings in its bill, call it's
offspring and place the palatAble dainty in
its willing beak, a kindly mark of atten-
ton deeply appreciated. But Oliver Twist
constantly asks for more, and the parent
dives again. In two or three minutes the
shoal of fry sinks into the depths again.
Thereupon the riot overhead ceases. The
crowd of guzzling birds melts away.
5ge1r Dhubh TO rest until the next signal
summons them to the feast No one who
only saw the birds on the rock would dream
them capable Of the wild activity they dis
play in feeding; nor would the spectator OF
the al fresco banquet imagine those winged
rioters capable OF the statueSque repose dis
played upon the Sgeir Dhubh. It's tenants
at one minute suggest angels in meditation:
at the next mob of hungry demons strug-
Cling madly for victuals With the fall OF
the leaf the army of herring fry Is either
eaten UP or has moved to other waters.
The sea fowl follow.