The Sea=birds of the Fame Islands 187 



is necessary to eiigao-e a fisliing-'' coble," as the ])oats of this 

 locahty are called. They are fine seaworthy boats, lugger- 

 rigged, and manned by a crew of three. 



After leaving the small fishing-harbour, I found no indi- 

 cation of the existence in the immediate neighboiu'liood of 

 any large nuniber of breeding sea-l)irds. A few Terns were 

 to be seen hovering with graceful fiight and swooping down 

 on the scraps of fish from the herring-boats, with some 

 stray (tuIIs and a few (Tannets engaged in their unique 

 manner of fishing. As the boat rushes forwards cner the 

 heaving waves, a few Puffins and Guillemots may be passed, 

 riding buoyantly over the billows. These, as the boat ap- 

 proaches, suddenly dive, to come up again far away on the 

 other side. The water is so clear and transparent that the 

 brilliant colour of the Puffins' legs may be distinctly seen 

 as they scull themselves along under water. Exceedingly 

 comical they look, with their trim, squat figures and im- 

 mense, gaily coloured beaks. I'hery now and then one will 

 pop iq) from below with a little silvery fish hanging from 

 its beak, and fly off with it to its solitary young one, 

 anxiously awaiting its arrival at the mouth of the nesting- 

 l)ui'r()w. Both they and the CTuillemots are as nuich at 

 home below the surface as they are above it, and are most 

 expert in catching such slippery customers as sand-eels and 

 the fry of various fishes. 



I'/ic sight of the islands to which a visitor is always 

 taken first is the *' Pinnacles,"' where the CTuillemots Ijreed. 

 An extraordinary scene it is too, and one well worth the 



