262 The Fame Islands. 



as quaint a little harbour as can be found on the 

 coast, and where lives the man, Cuthbertson by 

 name, who knows probably more about the Fame 

 Islands, and the birds which frequent them, than 

 any one living. There are, of course, many days, 

 even in June, on which the islands are not acces- 

 sible, as, if there is any sea, it breaks with such 

 violence on them as to make landing and embark- 

 ing, even when possible, very unpleasant, if not 

 absolutely dangerous. But given a fine day with a 

 smooth sea, the trip is most enjoyable. 



Looking across from the little harbour the islands 

 appear quite close, though the nearest of them is 

 distant about four miles; so close, indeed, that one 

 cannot help wondering whether there really are 

 birds upon them, as none are visible; but this 

 apparent absence of birds applies to the whole 

 of the coast between North Sunderland and 

 Bamburgh, which, considering that there are 

 thousands in such close proximity to it, is singularly 

 devoid of bird life a few gulls and terns, two or 

 three pairs of eider ducks, and a pair or so of 

 ringed plover, with one or two gannets, probably 

 visitors from the Bass "Rock, being all the birds 

 often to be seen between the two places. 



Yery soon after leaving the harbour, however, 

 birds begin to appear, first a pair of guillemots, 

 then four or five together, then a puffin or two, 

 and so on, as the islands are neared, until at 

 length the water is covered with birds of different 

 sorts which dive, swim, or fly off to make way for 



