Mr John:MacGillivray on the Isiand of St Kilda. 65 
to which I have no doubt they all retire at night. In fact, 
long strings of gannets may be seen on the approach of even- 
ing winging their way to the westward. This bird is appa- 
rently very select in the choice of its breeding-places, which 
it occupies to the total exclusion of every other species. None 
are to be found in Hirta, but the island Borreray is almost 
entirely occupied with them, as are also the adjacent rocks 
Stack Ly and Stack Narmin. The two latter, remarkable 
for their pointed summits and great height, along with por- 
tions of Borreray, appear even from the distance of many 
miles as if covered with snow, this deceptive appearance being 
caused by the myriads of gannets with which the rock is thickly 
covered, as well as the clouds of these birds passing and re- 
passing in the neighbourhood of their nests. The young birds 
are fledged in August if the produce of the first laying, but 
not till September if the first egg has been taken away, as it 
always is in spots of easy access. The ascent of Stack Ly, a 
rock which seems absolutely inaccessible, is considered the 
greatest of all the dangers to which a St Kildian can expose 
himself. Only asingle man can land at a time, and that only 
in fine weather. Even then there is great danger in a near 
approach, on account of the heavy swell, which many years 
ago drove upon the rock the only boat belonging to the island, 
when all on board, with one exception, perished. A second 
boat had previously been lost at the same place, but the crew 
were so fortunate as to effect a landing, and were taken off 
the rock a few days after by a boat from Harris sent to col- 
lect the rent. The man who lands first, after scrambling to 
the top, lowers a rope, by which the rest easily ascend, and 
commence plundering the nests, throwing down into the sea, 
to be afterwards picked up, the bodies of the young birds, 
and such of the old ones as they can secure. The old birds, 
however, are generally caught in gins, or killed under night 
when asleep. Great caution is required to prevent any of the 
gannets from giving the alarm, in which case the courage and 
ingenuity of the fowler will be exerted in vain. 
Great numbers of gannets are taken not only in St Kilda, 
but also throughout the Hebrides, by cautiously approaching 
them in a boat under sail, when gorged with fish and asleep 
yor. Xxx, No. Lx1t.—sanuary 1842. E 
