vf the Outer Hebrides. 31 



cliffs where they breed, as they move aoout very little by day, 

 being very nocturnal in their habits, like the other Petrels. 

 They are very seldom seen on the coasts of the " Long Island," 

 except after severe gales, or on dark foggy days, when they 

 wander further away. 



Soon after we entered the bay the people began to appear; 

 and some of the men came off to the steamer in a large, clumsy 

 boat, the only one, however, they have in which to go to the 

 adjacent isles. Some years ago Capt. Otter, R.N., who was 

 employed for many years in surveying the district, got them a 

 large and well-found boat, hoping thereby to encourage deep- 

 sea fishing, which is totally neglected on account of the bad 

 weather which so often prevails. This boat, unfortunately, in 

 attempting to cross to Harris, was lost on some rocks called the 

 Glorigs of Taransay, and all her crew, including seven or eight 

 of the best men in the island, were drowned. This sad accident, 

 together with the casualties which take place every now^ and then 

 from the carelessness of the climbers, has very much reduced 

 the able-bodied population of the island ; and there are not more 

 than twenty men now who can pursue their occupations on the 

 rocks. The population at present is about seventy, and is not 

 increasing, as many of the children die of a disease which ap- 

 pears to be almost peculiar to the place, and commonly carries 

 them off between the fifth and eighth days. 



The men were all stout and hardy, well dressed in homespun 

 cloth ; and the younger ones w^ere pleasant, merry fellows, and 

 good companions during my stay, though none of them could 

 speak a word of English. 



On landing we were met by the minister, Mr. Mackay, who 

 appeared very glad to see any one, as may well be imagined. 

 Strange to say, he did not seem to take any interest in, or to 

 know much about the birds, though he has been two years 

 among people whose thoughts are more occupied by birds than 

 anything else, and who depend principally on them for their 

 living. I showed a picture of the Great Auk, which Mr. J. H. 

 Gurney, jun., had kindly sent me, to the people, some of the 

 oldest of whom appeared to recognize it, and said that it had 

 not been seen for many years; but they were so excited by the 



