148 THE GANNET 



of sea-fowl which inhabit 8t. Kilda, the Guillemot, Razorbill 

 and Fulmar Petrel are excessively numerous. The Rev. Neil 

 Mackenzie had seen thirty-one baskets of Guillemots' eggs, 

 each containing four hundred, — which makes 12,400, — col- 

 lected in two gatherings on the little island of Stack Biorrach.* 

 As for the Puffins at St. Kilda, Dr. Wiglesworth declares that 

 they are simply incalculably numerous, far above any other 

 species of bird which inhabits the island, a statement which 

 is in every way confirmed by Mr. Mackenzie, f who adds 

 that the number of Puffins and their eggs which used to be 

 taken during a season, — men, women, boys, girls, and dogs 

 all pursuing them, — was incredible. But Puffins swarm in 

 many places besides St. Kilda, and it may well be that 

 numerically they are the dominant species of European 

 bird.t 



Large Quantities of Fish. — I have already alluded to the 

 quantity of fish found near Ailsa Craig (p. 103), and I believe 

 it is a fact that herrings and other fish are equally abundant 

 near St. Kilda, which makes it a favourite fishing ground 

 with the trawlers. Indeed, Norman Heathcote speaks of 

 a trawler said to have cleared £10,000§ in the vicinity of 



* Annals Scottish N. H. 1905, p. 149. t t.c, p. 151. 



J Yet the Puffin only lays one egg. No doubt this superabundance is 

 partly accounted for by the fact that the annual slaughter of them for 

 eating, whicli formerly took place, has nearly ceased. 



§ -'St. Kilda." p. 208. 



