298 THE COMMON GUILLEMOT. 



Proceeding round the coast from Lamberton on the east 

 to Cockburnspath on the west, the first colony of Guillemots 

 which we reach is at Whiteheugh, immediately to the north 

 of the village of Coldingham Shore. Here multitudes of 

 birds are seen on the whitened ledges of the overhanging 

 cliff, sitting erect in rows, and so closely wedged together 

 that every available space seems to be occupied by them. 

 As we draw near, their loud, hoarse, curring notes, which 

 they appear to utter in concert from time to time, have a 

 peculiar but not unpleasing effect upon the ear, and are in 

 keeping with the wild nature of the surrounding scenery. 

 When heard on a calm summer night, as the shades of 

 darkness are beginning to creep over the rocky coast, the 

 discordant screams of the innumerable sea- fowl, now swell- 

 ing loudly along the face of the cliff and again dying away 

 in the distance, produce a weird and fearful sound which 

 clings to the memory, and reminds the listener of the stories 

 of the gibbering hobgoblins, witches, and warlocks of the 

 past, who, 



wi' monie an eldrich screech and hollow, 



frightened the ancient inhabitants of the county. 



On passing from the Whiteheugh towards St. Abb's Head 

 a small breeding station of this species is seen on the cliffs 

 immediately to the east of the Lighthouse, and after rounding 

 the Head considerable colonies are found on the Cleaver 

 Eock, Foul Carr, the precipices at the Kamparts, Skelly, 

 and Flot Carr. There is also a nesting place on the face 

 of the steep cliff which looks towards the west, between 

 West Hurker and Petticowick Harbour.^ When we reach 



1 James Melville in his Autobiography mentions the spring of delicious water 

 which still exists at Petticowick. Describing his flight in an open boat towards 

 Berwick in June 1584, to escape from his persecutor Arran, he says : " It fell dea<l 

 calm about the sun drawing laigh. Coming under the Craig, we rowed in within 

 a pretty little howe betwixt the Main and the Head, where, easily going a-land, we 

 refreshed us with cold water and wine, and, returning to our boat, sleeped the dead 



