THE FARNE ISLANDS. 



(Aug. 16, 1890.) 



THE Fames, or Fearnes, are a group of very small 

 islands one or two of them, indeed, being little 

 more than rocks which are nearly covered at high 

 water lying off the north coast of Northumber- 

 land, about half-way between Bamburgh and the 

 little fishing village of North Sunderland, and 

 separated from the mainland by a channel about 

 two miles wide. They are, perhaps, most generally 

 known as the scene of the rescue of nine of the 

 crew of the s.s. Forfarshire by Grace Darling and 

 her father, the latter of whom was the keeper of 

 the lighthouse on the outermost of the islands. 

 Their fame, however, does not rest on this exploit 

 alone; but rather, among ornithologists at least, 

 on the fact that during the summer months that 

 is, from May to September they are the home of 

 countless sea-birds, which resort to them to nest 

 and rear their young, a purpose for which they are 

 eminently adapted, not only from their isolated 

 position, but also from their conformation, as, 

 though extremely small, they provide cliffs, stacks, 

 and crags, rabbit-warren and land thickly covered 

 with vegetation, rocks, and sloping beach, all of 

 which are taken possession of for nesting purposes 



