ST. KILDA 125 



" The Solan Geese," continues Martin, " are always the 

 surest sign of herrings, for where-ever the one is seen the other 

 is always not far off. There is a Tribe of Barren Solan Geese 

 which have no Nests and sit upon the bare Rock ; these are 

 not the Young Fowls of an Year Old, whose dark Colour would 

 soon distinguish them, but Old ones, in all things like the 

 rest ; these have a Province, as it were, allotted to them, and 

 are in a separated state from the others, having a Rock Two 

 hundred Paces distant from all other; neither do they meddle 

 with, or approach to those Hatching, or any other Fowls. 

 They Sympathize and Fish together ; this being told me by 

 the Inhabitants, was afterwards confirmed to me several 

 times by my own Observation. The Solan Geese have 

 always some of their Number that keep Centinal in the 

 Night-time, and if they are surprised (as it often happens) 

 all that Flock are taken one after another ; but if the 

 Centinal be awake at the approach of the creeping Fowlers, 

 and hear a Noise, it cries softly. Grog Grog, at which the 

 Flock move not ; but if this Centinal see or hear the Fowler 

 approaching, he cries quickly Bir, Bir, which would seem 

 to import danger, since immediately after all the Ti'ibe take 

 Wing, leaving the Fowler empty on the Rock." . . . . " The 

 Solan Goose comes about the middle of March with a Soufh- 

 West Wind, warm Snow, or Rain, and goes away, according 

 as the Inhabitants determine the time, i.e., the taking 



