74 Mr. C. Dixon on the 



the northern horn of this remarkal)ly picturesque bay. At 

 the extreme western extremity of St. Kilda is the smaller 

 island of Soay, separated by a narrow strait^ in which stand 

 three lofty stacks of rock (Stack Biorrach, or the pointed 

 stacks the most difficult cliff to climb in the islands^ Stack 

 Soay, and Stack Doonaah, or the bad stack). On two of 

 these stacks sea-birds breed in great numbers. Soay rises 

 over a thousand feet from the sea, and affords a pasturage 

 for a large number of sheep, as well as a congenial home for 

 myriads of sea-fowl, particularly the Manx Shearwater, which 

 literally swarms, many parts of the island being undermined 

 with the burrows of these singular birds. The Stormy Petrels' 

 nurseries are also here. About four miles north of St. Kilda 

 stands the island of Boi'reay, with its attendant rocks of 

 Stack-an-Armin and Stack Lii, the latter being the grand 

 headquarters of the Gannets, which not only swarm on its 

 flat sloping summit, but on all the ledges, nooks, and crannies 

 of its lofty sides. Borreay rises over a thousand feet above 

 sea-level, and its mighty cliffs swarm with birds, whilst sheep 

 graze on the summit and the grassy ledges. St. Kilda is the 

 only island of the group which is inhabited by man; and at 

 the time of my visit in June 1 884 its population numbered 

 seventy-eight. 



Upon landing, my trusty henchman, Sandy Campbell of 

 Dunvegan, introduced me to Donald M'Queen, the best crags- 

 man in the island, the best fowler, and the best guide to the 

 birds of St. Kilda. He knows them all, and supplied me 

 with much information respecting their habits. Unfortu- 

 nately he only speaks Gaelic, and my conversations had 

 to be carried on chiefly by Sandy^s aid, or with the assistance 

 of Mr. J. Mackenzie and Mr. Campbell. As soon as I landed 

 on this ornithological paradise, signs of birds met me at every 

 " step. The grovmd near the houses was strewn with birds' 

 wings, feathers, and bones ; the houses smelt strongly of 

 Fulmars ; and in a dozen different ways I was informed that 

 I was amongst a nation of fowlers. The houses of the St.- 

 Kildans are ranged in a long crescent, about four hundred 

 yards from the shore. Behind and before them are the 



