16 SEA-FOWL SHOOTING IN 



not show again for some time. We followed, but 

 in vain, for each dive became longer the further 

 we pursued and little did I think that this king 

 of divers had his death-wound, and would yet be 

 mine. Two days after, some poor fishermen found 

 him dead, and, when he was skinned, it was dis- 

 covered that a No. 3 pellet had passed through 

 one side of the head, and lodged above the eye on 

 the other. 



The chase after the Great Northern Diver had 

 taken us out to sea again, and brought us nearly 

 opposite the second islet of the group named " The 

 Lamb." The eastern rocks are a favourite stance 

 of the great cormorant, or " Scart," called by fisher- 

 men at the breeding season, " Letter-o'-marques," 

 from the white patches on the top of each thigh. 

 On the pinnacle of one of these rocks, which rise 

 abruptly out of the water, like the Needles in the 

 Isle of Wight, three were seated in state, sunning 

 themselves luxuriously after their morning feed. 

 There was little hope of a shot from the sea, but 

 no difficulty in getting within seventy yards from 

 the land. On gaining the rocks I had an interest- 

 ing inspection of the trio, who were extending 



