172 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



of it to-day. Not far from the cairn are numerous rain pools, 

 but the only very large one lies at a lower level than the 

 spring, and is occasionally entered by the higher tides. 



Hysgeir in general shape, especially at the time of high 

 water, resembles an irregular crescent, or new moon, with 

 the concave side facing northward, and the convex side south- 

 ward. At low water most of the principal rocks are connected, 

 but not the western skerries, some of which are sunken, and 

 some elevated above high tide, but all water-swept or 

 drenched with spray. At high water, the main rocks are cut 

 up by deep, narrow voes, over which in most instances a man 

 could step or jump. Along these miniature canals the great 

 seals find their way to tidal pools and landlocked bays. The 

 principal of these landlocked sheets of water is towards the 

 south side, is about a gunshot across, and is much frequented 

 by the seals when not much disturbed. In this deep calm 

 basin also, the lobster-fishermen who come out from Canna 

 find shelter for their smacks in stormy weather, and are some- 

 times detained here for a week at a time, and this, too, when to 

 lie-to outside would be almost certain destruction. We found 

 a rude shelter of drift-wood which had been used by them, and 

 about a score of potatoes, and many shells of sea-birds' eggs 

 around it — the remnants of a rude repast. In the month of 

 November parties of the natives of Canna go out to club the 

 seals, as old and young endeavour to escape down the narrow 

 gullets or voes. Three years ago 27 were thus slaughtered, 

 mostly young ones. We found also the carcase of a lately 

 killed specimen, from which the blubber had been carefully 

 flensed. It was in a considerable stage of decomposition, so 

 after a vain attempt to sever the head from the body, I 

 allowed it to remain, the more readily that it was not by any 

 means a large example. Fishermen from Canna — we had 

 learned in the morning — had forestalled us, and had sheltered 

 in the seal's pool for a day or more. Thus our chances of 

 getting a specimen ourselves were correspondingly lessened. 



Hysgeir is a low basaltic rock, perhaps not more than thirty 

 feet high at its highest points, which latter are situated towards 

 the east horn of the crescent, and in the centre. The nortli 

 side is the best to land upon if seal-shooting is desired, but 



