CHAPTER LXIX. 



ROCK-FOWLING IN ST. KILDA." 



' Come on tlien, Jock and Alick, 



On to the sea-rocks bold ; — 

 I was trained to take the sea-fowl 



Ere I was five years old !" 



Come on then, Jock and Alick, 

 To the splintered sea-clifl's brow ! 



Wliere are the lads ? — I wot ye. 

 On the topmost crags ere now !" 



Song of the Sea-fowler. 



The island of St. Kilda lias always been a favourite place of resort 

 for sea-fowl, the numbers frequenting' the cliffs and rocks of that 

 locality, at certain seasons, being* truly astonishing. During summer 

 the natives subsist chiefly on the birds captured by the rock-fowlers, 

 and on the eggs of the various species which build in the rocks. It 

 has been aflirmed that during the fowling and egging* seasons, out of 

 the abundance of fowl and eggs which are taken in the island, there 

 is a sufficient surplus, after amply supplying all the natives, to sup- 

 port two thousand persons besides ! 



The fowlers of St. Kilda are considered the most intrepid and 

 expert in the world : their feats of daring and alertness in climbing- 

 rocks have often been the subject of discussion. 



When the fowling season commences in St. Kilda, the native 

 fowlers have a merry-making, and feast together, as of one fraternity, 

 over the first productions of their adventures. At this meeting they 

 arrange themselves into distinct parties (generally each of four 



* Vide " History of St. Kilda ;" by the Rev. Kenneth Maeauley : a.d. 17(31. 



