IN THE SHETLANDS 57 
cook my supper, makes this difficult, or, at least, 
inconvenient. But if I cannot see them fly in in the 
evening, I may see them fly out in the morning, and 
that should be “a sight for sair een.” 
Whilst rowing to these caves we had seen one black 
guillemot, or “‘tysty,” flying over the sea with a fish 
in its bill, and another swimming with a young one 
by its side. The latter was of a greyish colour, and 
about a third smaller than the parent bird, which in 
shape and movements it closely resembled. These 
birds, therefore, breed in the Shetlands—a fact well 
known before, I believe; but I like to rediscover 
things. Another and more interesting thing that we 
saw was a seal swimming very fast, and leaping, at 
intervals, out of the water. I think I may use this 
expression, for if he did not leap quite free of it, he 
very nearly did, so as to show his whole body. He 
rose in a very bluff, bold way, with great impetus, as 
it seemed, and went straight, or nearly straight up, 
for a little, before falling forward again. Each time 
one seemed to hear the splash and the blow, but this 
was only in imagination, the distance being too great. 
When I say that this seal was swimming very fast 
I am giving my impression merely. All I saw was 
the leaps, which were quickly repeated, yet with 
a good space between each, and all in one direction. 
Between them, therefore, he must have been speeding | 
along at a great pace, so that, each time he plunged 
up, it was as from a spring-board of impetus and 
energy. I do not remember reading of seals leaping 
