On Sea and SJiore. 2 1 7 



the coasts of Scotland it becomes even more numer- 

 ous and widely dispersed. 



We will now retrace our steps to the Fame 

 Islands and make a brief inspection of such birds 

 that build their nests on the tlat surface, reserving 

 the cliff- haunting species for our next chapter. 

 Repeated visits to these islands only increase their 

 charm. A single visit is bewildering, renewed 

 acquaintance impresses their wonders upon us and 

 enables us fully to realize the grandeur of the scene 

 and more completely to enjoy the avine wonders 

 of the place. Apart from their bird-life, there is a 

 strong human interest clinging to them, for Grace 

 Darling casts a halo of romance around them by her 

 daring deed long years ago, and which is still a 

 stock subject for conversation up and down the 

 coast. These rocky islands lying a few miles off the 

 shore are nowadays almost a perfect sanctuary for 

 sea-birds. This was not always so; for we can 

 recall the time when the eggs especially were 

 gathered in such a wholesale way that the wonder 

 is there were any sea-birds left there. Strict pro- 

 tection is now the rule, and visitors are generally 

 kept under such close supervision that the lifting 

 of an {1^^ without permission is almost an impossi- 

 bility. There are, of course, a good many birds on 

 and off these islands at all times of the year; now 

 and then, especially in winter or during migration 



