58 Mr John MacGillivray on the Island of St Kilda. 
preserved a beautiful specimen, and another was seen and fired 
at about the same time in the adjacent island of Pabbay. 
The Grallatores, like the land birds, are few in number. 
The Oyster-catcher, Hamatopus ostralegus (.An Trilachan ) 
I found breeding among the loose stones at the upper margin 
of the bay, and also in some exposed shelving rocks on the 
west side of the island. Several pairs of the Dunlin, Tringa 
variabilis, were observed upon the hill side, where they 
doubtless had young. A few Land-rails, Gallinula Crex 
(Dreunn), are always to be found among the corn, and their 
ery may be heard all night long, and occasionally during the 
day. 
In addition to these, the minister has occasionally observed 
the Golden Plover, Common Snipe, and the Woodcock, the 
last only in winter, when it is found by the rills along with 
the snipe. 
Far more interesting, however, than these, are the nume- 
rous water-birds which resort to St Kilda for the purpose of 
breeding, and whose countless myriads enliven the otherwise 
dreary solitudes of its rocky isles, and lend a charm to their 
gloomy and savage grandeur. Some faint idea of one of their 
breeding-places may perhaps be found, by a perusal of the fol- 
lowing extract from my note-book. 
Leaving the hut, I set off for the top of a high hill above 
the village, and after a little scrambling among the loose 
blocks which covered its declivity, managed to reach it. The 
day was clear, and with the exception of small patches of fog 
which were hovering about, scarcely a cloud was to be seen. 
The dim outline of the Hebrides formed the eastern boundary 
of the horizon, which they filled as with a dim haze. On all 
other sides no land was to be seen, save the neighbouring 
islands of Borreray and Soay, with the adjacent rocks. After 
walking along the ridge a little way, I came suddenly upon 
the top of a tremendous precipice, far surpassing all my pre- 
conceived ideas of the grandest rock scenery. It was with a 
feeling of involuntary awe that I looked down 
“ High from the summit 
Of a craggy cliff, such as amazing frowns 
On utmost Kilda’s shore, whose lonely race 
Resign the setting sun to Indian worlds.” 
