NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OP THE BELL ROCK. 23 



migratory period, to keep the cats indoors to prevent them 

 mangling the expected catch. In one particular instance the 

 birds collected of a morning filled an ordinary clothes-basket, 

 and a few nights later included five wild geese, which were 

 secured out of a large flock that came to grief on the dome. 



An hour before daybreak on the 22nd it appeared as if we 

 were about to suffer a bombardment, and that daylight was to 

 witness the commencement of hostilities. No less than seven 

 torpedo-boat destroyers were seen creeping close up to the 

 Rock, their low black hulls scarcely discernible in the feeble 

 light, and not until daylight disclosed the white ensign were 

 we assured of their intentions. A little later they were joined 

 by three gunboats and, after some clever manoeuvring, formed 

 into three lines, the gunboats occupying the centre. They then 

 steamed away in the direction of the Firth of Forth. Two 

 hours later other three gunboats passed us, going in the same 

 direction, escorted by four destroyers, and followed shortly after 

 by a solitary gunboat. Extremely interesting it was to witness 

 the precision and dexterity of their movements as they swung 

 into their respective positions for the advance, their semaphores 

 all the while going like windmills. Again, on the 24th, about 

 11 a.m., a fleet of about a dozen battleships, headed by a 

 dispatch boat, was seen moving in stately procession from the 

 Tay, evidently bound for the Forth. 



We have had several heliographic communications from 

 our shore station in Arbroath during the month, and providing 

 there is sunshine there is now no difficulty in transmitting 

 messages to the Rock by this means. Four years ago the late 

 Dr Russell, Arbroath, while on a professional visit to the 

 shore station, for which he was medical attendant, witnessed 

 our initial attempts in this direction, and, convinced of the 

 feasibility of the method, urged upon us, in his character- 

 istically vigorous style, the necessity for persevering in our 

 attempts, at the same time predicting that it would ultimately 

 prove successful. Little did we then dream it was soon to 

 become the means of conveying the sorrowful intelligence of 

 this estimable gentleman's death. 



