100 NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OP THE BELL ROCK. 



month. Apropos of these days of " retaliation," there is an 

 old Scottish Act of Parliament of the time of Edward the 

 First relating to this bird, in which all its eggs are ordered to- 

 be broken when found, "in order that Peesweeps may not go 

 south, and become a. delicious repast to our unnatural enemies 

 the English ! " 



A quiet night on the 3 1 st seemed to augur favourably for 

 our relief, which was due the following evening ; by that time, 

 however, the prospect was completely changed by a strong 

 sou'-east wind, and consequently heavy sea, which rendered 

 landing extremely doubtful. The following morning the 

 Pharos made her appearance, and attempted a landing at 

 daybreak. The two boats despatched from the steamer for 

 this purpose, on approaching the Rock, found the passage 

 unsafe to attempt, and returned to the steamer. Weighing 

 anchor, the Pharos proceeded to the relief of the North Carr 

 Lightship, where, owing to the tempestuous state of the 

 weather, she broke the hawser by which she moors to the 

 lightship three times during the operation. Landing the 

 relief men from the lightship and Bass Rock which had 

 been relieved the previous day at North Berwick, and 

 sheltering overnight at the Isle of May, she returned to us on 

 Wednesday morning and succeeded in effecting the relief. 



