BIEDS' NESTING SEASON 139 



and though the sea close by to the north was white 

 and thundered ominously, we got over without any 

 difficulty. 



From the landing-place, where the shepherd's cottage, 

 the only one on the island, stands on level ground not 

 many feet above the sea, the land in Noss rises west- 

 ward, steepening at first gently, then more and more 

 rapidly, until, at the split-sugar-loaf-shaped point of 

 the ' Noup,' the short flowery turf ends abruptly in a 

 precipice. 



Not far from the highest point is one of the many 

 little inlets known locally as Geos, Voes, or Wicks, 

 according to their size and shape, which give much of 

 its picturesqueness to the coast scenery of the Shet- 

 lands ; and from the promontory at the farther side we 

 were able to get a good view of one side of the sea face, 

 which seems to be built up of thin horizontal layers of 

 sandstones and conglomerates, alternately hard and soft, 

 which, weathering with curious regularity, have given 

 the precipice in parts very much the appearance of a 

 gigantic bookcase, on every shelf of which, as we saw it, 

 were tightly packed masses of sea-birds, of every shade 

 of white, black, and grey. 



We had been told that to do justice to the Noup of 

 Noss, it should be seen from the sea. It may be so. 

 But if the view from below is more impressive than that 

 on which we looked down from the summit, it must be 

 one of extraordinary grandeur. 



The waves were rolling in, and breaking into foam on 

 the rocks 600 feet below us. Puffins, Guillemots, and 



