The Land of the Hills and the Glens 



came about that to Ernisgeir was given the proud title, 

 "Queen of the Islands." 



In another version of the story it is said that the re- 

 quest was put forward by a nurse or foster mother (which 

 latter class was common at that time in the Highlands) 

 when she went to ask the Lord of the Isles for a patrimony 

 for her child. To make the request small and likely to be 

 granted without trouble, on being asked what land she 

 wished, she replied that she would be quite satisfied with 

 "little Ernisgeir and her islands," and the true meaning 

 of the request was not realized at the time. 



Even during recent years the appearance of Ernisgeir 

 has changed. The old people of to-day remember the 

 time when the grass grew long and green here, affording 

 pasture sufficient for eight sheep throughout the year. 

 Now scarce a blade of vegetation can be found from one 

 corner of the island to another. It seems that the puffin, 

 or, as he is called by the Highland fisherman, "Seumi 

 ruadh," or "Red Jimmy," must be held responsible for 

 this, since it was only at his coming, within the past twenty 

 years, that all grass disappeared as the result of his bur- 

 rowing. 



But to the island, these companies of "herring birds," 

 to give the puffin another local name, give a strangely 

 cheerful look. I shall not forget the first time that I passed 

 it close, crossing from Gometra to lona in a motor-boat. 

 While yet some distance from Ernisgeir the puffins in their 

 hundreds flew out towards the boat, and accompanied it, 

 without a cry — for these strange birds are almost always 

 silent — well beyond the place of their nesting. This was 

 a day of dull skies and — a thing rare in the Western High- 

 lands — a steady downpour of rain unaccompanied by wind. 

 On this day along the Gribun Rocks grey m'sts hung, heavy 

 with their moisture. Of the hill-tops one could see nothing, 

 but from out the mist cap there came many white water- 

 falls, for each hill burn was overflowing, and dried-up 



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