THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 27 



baggage might be able to get on board. Kelly 

 added carelessly, but slyly, " There is a queer 

 bird diving outside the creek where the boat is, 

 that nane o' us kens what it is." This was a 

 master-stroke. We were down in half the time 

 stipulated, and immediately assured that the 

 unknown was still at his post. I was completely 

 puzzled. At first I fancied the bird a smew, 

 but was corrected by the telescope. Cautiously 

 shoving nearer and nearer with the boat-hook, 

 the little diver at length began to sheer off. 

 Now was the time to fire, and it lay dead to my 

 son's shot a black guillemot, but in the light 

 speckled plumage of winter. 



The sails were scarcely hoisted, when, in the 

 distance, but flying towards us, I distinctly saw 

 another of these guillemots, but this one was 

 black as ebony. He crossed between us and 

 the shore, about 300 yards from the boat. Both 

 telescopes were fixed if possible to mark him 

 down. He soon plumped into the water, and 

 every time the wave rose we had a full view 

 of the black speck on its crest. The jumble of 

 the sea made shooting uncertain, but 1 still pre- 



