4 1 o BIRD- CA TCHING. 



existed, connecting the South Stack rock with Holyhead 

 mountain, in lieu of an original and far more primitive 

 machine, which was for a time, of necessity, resorted to by 

 those who wished to inspect the works on the island. It con- 

 sisted of a small box, suspended on two strong ropes swung 

 across a chasm of about a hundred and fifty feet, commencing 

 its journey from a projecting point, about half-way down the 

 precipice of the mainland, from which the passenger was 

 vaulted over the gulf, by a rope leading to the island — a jour- 

 ney which, together with the scrambling down the unprotected 

 face of the precipice, was sufficiently disagreeable and alarming 

 to convey a correct idea of the far more terrific communications 

 adopted in less frequented places ; such as that in Shetland, 

 between the headland of Bressa, a sort of column rising out of 

 the sea to the height of three or four hundred feet above its 

 level, and not more than four yards in diameter on its summit. 

 It is said that this cradle, by which the inhabitants pass easily 

 and readily, and, from habit, without any fear of danger, was 

 erected by a bold man in the neighbourhood, who mounted 

 the hitherto supposed inaccessible sides of the rock. A great 

 number of people were assembled, expecting to see him lose 

 his footing, and fall headlong : however, he succeeded, and 

 when at the top waved his hat and cheered his friends ; 

 and then having with their assistance on the opposite side, 

 arranged the ropes and cradle, might have been the first to 

 cross safely and successfully over his own bridge — but being 

 foolhardy, and determined to descend by the way he had got 

 up, before he had accomplished a third of the distance, his 

 foot slipped, and he was dashed to pieces. 



But though here and there accommodations like this, or 

 others, for facilitating the visits of the bird-catchers to their 

 particular haunts, may be at hand, by far the greater number 

 are taken by enterprising individuals, who have only their 

 own steadiness of head, strength of muscle, and dauntless 

 spirit, to ensure success. We will describe the means and 

 proceedings of those in St. Kilda, a small speck of an island, 

 the most westward and distant (save a still smaller needle- 



