THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE, NATIVE AND MIGRATORY 5 



pinnacles, stacks, and skerries, which, like the neighbouring 

 cliffs, are the home in the summer of innumerable rock-loving 

 sea-fowl. Caves and natural arches are also numerous, for 

 the geological structure of the island readily lends itself to 

 their formation. The cliffs on the east side are not so high, 

 but there we have the picturesque " Sheep Craig " a noble 

 mass of practically isolated rock rising almost perpendicularly 

 from the sea to a height of about 500 feet (the natives say 

 590 feet), and the greatest resort of sea-fowl in the island, 

 and formerly a nesting station of the Sea Eagle. 



There are two natural harbours. Of these, the one on 

 the south is to all intents and purposes the only one used. 

 It is, however, beset by a labyrinth of rocks, and across its 

 mouth rushes a furious tidal roost, so that the aid of native 

 experience must be sought by those who would enter it even 

 in a boat. There is a smaller and better harbour on the 

 north section of the east coast, but it is some distance from 

 the inhabited portion of the island, and is not used by the 

 Islanders. 



The cultivated land occupies the central part of the 

 southern third of the island, and is flanked by grass land more 

 or less rough in character. The area under cultivation is 

 from 200 to 300 acres in extent, and the soil, which is peaty, 

 produces oats, bear, turnips, potatoes, and cabbages. 



The northern two-thirds is mostly barren, being carpeted 

 with stunted heather and grass, among which creeps a species 

 of juniper. The ground here is high, especially all along 

 the west, where it culminates in Ward Hill (7 I 2 feet), the 

 highest point in the island. This portion of the island is 

 also flanked in places with grass land ; and lying at its 

 southern limit, on the west, there is an extensive wet 

 moor known as " Sukka Moor," with many lochans and 

 a connecting burn. This area would seem to be well 

 suited for breeding of such species as the Golden Plover, 

 Curlew, Snipe, and Dunlin ; but is, perhaps, either too 

 exposed or storm-swept : at any rate none of these birds 

 appear to resort to the island for nesting purposes. 



A number of burns traverse the island to enter the sea 

 as waterfalls on the face of the cliffs. And there are two 

 small natural sheets of water at the North end of the island. 



