80 THE GANNET 



" Upon the way hence [from Glasgow] to Erwin 

 [Irvine] we discovered many islands, and, amongst the rest, 

 the great isle of Arran. . . . One more remarkable isle, 

 hence shows itself at forty miles distant ; this is placed in 

 the sea about sixteen miles* from shore. It is a mighty high 

 rock, seeming very steep and high, round at the top ; the 

 name of it is Ellsey [Ailsa], and it belongs to my Lord 

 Castle [Cassilis] ; not inhabited, but with abundance of 

 fowl, and two earies of Goose-hawks, t this year stolen by 

 some Highlanders. This rock was in our view three days, 

 whilst we travelled betwixt sixty and seventy mile, and, when 

 you are at a great distance, it presents itself in shape like a 

 sugar-loaf, and when you approach nearer it seems lower and 

 flatter at the top, but it is to be a much-to-be-admired piece 

 of the Lord's workmanship. In this isle of Ellsey, which 

 is my Lord Castle's, there breed abundance of Solemne 

 Geese, which are longer-necked and bodied than ours, and 

 so extreme fat are the young as that when they eat them, 

 they are placed in the middle of the room, so as all may 

 have access about it ; their arms stripped up and linen 

 cloaths placed before their cloaths, to secure them from 

 being defiled from the fat thereof, which doth besprinkle 

 and besmear all that come near unto it." 



* Only nine miles. 



f No doubt eyries of the Peregrine Falcons, but only one pair breeds 

 there now. 



