192 ST. KILDA FROM WITHOUT 



is, writes Martin, ' from which the feathers have fallen 

 off with the heat in hatching.' The peculiarity is 

 noticed in its Gaelic name, * An Gerrabhal, 1 translated 

 by Mr. A. Carmichael ' the strong, stout bird, with the 

 spot.' 



The presence of ' the spot ' on the breast of the Great 

 Auk is the more worth noting, as a story told by 

 earlier travellers of a nearly allied bird, one of the 

 Great Penguins of the Southern Hemisphere, but not, 

 perhaps, very generally believed, has lately been found 

 to be true. 



The bird has between its legs a fold of bare skin and 

 muscle, hidden under the breast feathers, forming what 

 is practically a perfect pouch, in which it can, and, as 

 proved by the officers of the Challenger Expedition, 

 actually does, carry its egg. 



The town of Stornoway, when we reached it, was astir 

 with men and girls busy with preparations for a start 

 southwards by a special steamer, to sail in the small 

 hours next morning. 



The fishing, just over, had been another instance of 

 the ' glorious uncertainty ' which adds half its zest to 

 idle sport, but is a terrible fact to be reckoned with by 

 those whose provision for wives and families is depend- 

 ent on their earnings. 



The Barra herrings, which, for some reason which no 

 one seems quite able to explain, fetch higher prices in 

 the foreign markets Russian especially than any 

 others, had failed entirely. The fish landed at Castle 



