LONDON BIRDS 59 



north-east have sculptured the chalk, are the breeding- 

 places of countless thousands of Guillemots, and, in 

 lesser numbers, of Razorbills, Puffins, and Kittiwakes. 

 For six or seven miles north of the Danes' Dyke the 

 cliffs are systematically ' worked ' by parties of climbers, 

 who hire the right to climb from the occupiers of the 

 land above for from ten to twelve shillings a year 

 for each field, and make considerable sums during the 

 season. Their work commonly begins about the second 

 week of May, and with a ' slack ' in the middle, during 

 which comparatively few eggs are laid, lasts until 

 towards the end of July. The eggs are found most 

 plentifully in windy weather, and especially when the 

 moon is waxing and near the full. There are usually 

 four partners in each gang a ' climber ' and three 

 'hawlers,' who share profits equally. Their outfit 

 consists of two ropes, one of which hangs loose from an 

 iron stake to serve as the climber's guiding and 

 signalling line. 



Two grooved iron wheels of 6-inch or 7-inch diameter, 

 supported on iron pegs, are driven into the ground, 

 the one at the extreme edge of the cliff, the other a 

 little farther up ; and over these the second and more 

 important ' carrying rope ' is run to lessen friction and 

 avoid the risk of cutting. 



A broad padded leather belt is worn by the hawler 

 sitting farthest from the cliff, who breaks the strain 

 as the climber hangs below by running the rope round 

 his own back at the waist as he pays it out. 



At the end of the carrying rope are two broad loops 



