Ornithology of St. Kilda. 77 



As I was anxious to obtain a few examples of the Fulmar, 

 I got Donald to accompany me one evening to the cliffs on 

 the shoulder between Mullach-oshavall and Connacher, for 

 the purpose of seeing his method of catching birds. Every 

 St.-Kildan almost constantly wears a coil of rope slung round 

 his body, as well as a clasp-knife, hung with a string round 

 his neck. After arming himself with a rod, about ten feet 

 in length, at the end of which, fastened on to a hazel-twig, 

 was a horsehair noose, stiflened, like a carriage-whip, with 

 Gannets'' quills, Donald started with me for the rocks. In 

 spite of the gale that was blowing from the north-west, he 

 fearlessly descended the cliffs, creeping stealthily towards the 

 Fulmars that were sitting unconsciously on their nests, 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. Its companions seemed little concerned at its 

 fate ; and he was able to catch as many as we wanted, with 

 the smallest possible trouble. All the sea-birds are caught 

 in the same manner. As soon as they are taken, the fowler 

 usually breaks their necks and hangs them in his belt, or 

 ties them hy the neck in bundles. Most of the Puffins are 

 caught in horsehair nooses, which are fixed on cords and set in 

 various parts of the cliffs and banks which they frequent, whilst 

 great numbers are taken from their holes, either by the fowler 

 himself or by his dog, which is trained for the purpose. 



When climbing the more difficult parts of the cliffs the 

 St.-Kildans go in parties ; sometimes two men go together, 

 more often three or four — one descending the cliffs, the 

 others managing the ropes above and assisting their com- 

 panion to explore the most likely parts of the rocks. One 

 of the ropes is generally fastened round the climber^s waist 

 and paid out by the men at the top as it is required^ whilst 

 the other rope is suspended over the cliff by a stake, and is 

 used to relieve the body-rope as much as possible. As is 

 usual in nearly all cliff-climbing, the greatest danger arises 

 from the loose pieces of rock that are liable to fall on the 

 fowler. Accidents are not of very frequent occurrence, and 

 are usually the result of gross carelessness. Donald pointed 



