30 Capt. Elwes on the Bird-Stations 



The Gannets do not breed on the Island of St. Kilda at all, 

 but only on Boreray and the adjacent rocks, called Stack-an-Ar- 

 min and Stack-Lii. These are two almost perpendicular stacks, 

 of great height, with flattish tops, which are so crowded with 

 Gannets that at a distance they look as if covered with snow. 

 The ascent of these rocks would be impossible to any one but 

 a St.-Kildian ; and even to him it is a matter of great difficulty, 

 and can only be effected in the calmest weather. Then a boat is 

 rowed as near as they dare go, and the most active man, jumping 

 out with a rope, scrambles up a short distance and makes it fast 

 to an iron hook, which was fixed in the rock by some of the 

 ancient inhabitants, and without which it would now be impos- 

 sible to ascend. Four or five of the best climbers then help 

 each other up to the top, where they kill as many of the young 

 Gannets as are required, and throw them into the sea. This 

 generally takes place in September, when the young are very 

 fat, and heavier than the old birds. They are called " Guga^^ 

 by the natives, whilst the old ones have the same name (Sulair) 

 as is used elsewhere, and expresses their extremely sharp sight*. 



We were unable to land on Boreray, owing to the tremendous 

 swell, and were obliged to content ourselves with a view of its 

 immense crags from below. It is nearly as high as St. Kilda, 

 being 1072 feet, and is even more precipitous, as there is hardly 

 a level spot on it. 



Until we actually entered the Bay of St. Kilda, very few 

 birds, except Gannets and Gulls, were seen ; and I should not 

 have known that the Fulmars were there, until I came to the 



them finding his Neighbom''s Nest without the Fowl, lays hold on the 

 Opportunity, and steals from it as much Grass as he could conveniently 

 carry off", taking his flight towards the Ocean ; from thence he presently 

 returns, as if he made a foreign Purchase, but it does not pass for such. 

 For the Owner had discovered the Fact, before the Thief had got out of 

 sight, and too nimble for his Cimning, waits his Return, all armed with 

 Fury, and engages him desperately ; this bloody Battle was fought above 

 our Pleads, and proved fatal to the Thief, who fell dead so near our Boat, 

 that our Men took him up, and presently dressed and eat him ; which they 

 reckoned as an Omen of good success in the Voyage." — Voi/. to St. 

 Kilda, p. 8. 



* Cf. Ibis, 1866, pp. 13, 14. 



