i64 JOTTINGS ABOUT BIRDS. 



purpose of getting them, and also to see his method 

 of catching birds. After arming himself with a 

 rod, about ten feet in length, at the end of which, 

 fastened on to a hazel twig, was a horse-hair noose 

 stiffened like a driving-whip with Gannet's quills, 

 we started for the rocks. This snaring-pole is kept 

 in a place of safety in the cottage, and looked after 

 as carefully as the blow-pipe and poisoned arrows 

 of the South American Indian. It is also used as 

 a support or even as a leaping-pole when the fowler 

 is at work on the cliffs. Notwithstanding the gale 

 that was blowing from the north-west, Donald fear- 

 lessly descended the cliffs and crept stealthily as a 

 cat towards the Fulmars that were sitting on their 

 nests all unconscious of harm, and then carefully 

 passing the rod towards one of them he slipped the 

 fatal noose over its head and drew the fluttering- 

 captive towards him. The Fulmars sitting near 

 seemed little concerned at the fate of their com- 

 panion ; they appeared almost as though they were 

 under the influence of some spell, and he was able 

 to snare as many as we wanted with the smallest 

 possible trouble. Donald was also most careful to 

 take the egg as well, putting it for safety into his 

 capacious Scotch bonnet. My success, or rather 

 want of it, was very different when I tried to follow 



