254 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



The Skellig Rocks and their Sea-fowl. 



LET us now take a flight to " The Skelligs " and 

 survey the sea-fowl which annually resort there for 

 the breeding season. 



In extent the island is about eighty-four acres, 

 chiefly precipitous cliff, intersected by beautiful 

 green valleys. It lies some eight miles south-west 

 of Valentia Island, the nearest boat harbour being 

 Portmagee. 



On leaving this small port, from which the 

 lighthouse is tended, we pass first Puffin Island ; 

 then the Lemon, a half-tide rock ; next the small 

 Skellig, the well-known nesting-place of the Gannet ; 

 a mile farther, and we are at the Large Skellig, that 

 towers skyward like a huge sugar-loaf a thousand 

 feet in height. 



There are four landing-places, and any day on 

 which a boat can get out a landing may be effected 

 dryshod. The principal place for this purpose lies 

 north-east. It is called " The Blindman's Cave," con- 

 cerning which a singular legend is current. There 

 are many fathoms of water to the very verge of the 

 rock, and a great number of steps are cut up from 

 the landing-stage where we step ashore. The first 

 thing to attract our attention is the number of 



