THE SKELLIGS AND SEA-FOWL. 255 



Gulls, Guillemots, and Razor-bills nesting. Above 

 them may be seen rabbits skipping up the slopes, 

 and Puffins here and there peering out from clefts 

 and holes. 



Shaping our course south by the path which has 

 been cut three-quarters of a mile out of the rock 

 (some of the cuttings are very deep), we reach 

 " Seal Cave," about half way. The road runs 

 parallel to the mouth of this cave, so that the 

 Gulls and Razor-bills, that nest in vast numbers 

 just across the chasm, and but fifty feet distant, can 

 be plainly viewed. Their habits and movements 

 may here be closely scrutinized, and are very 

 amusing and curious. On leaving this spot we 

 wind round till we face the broad Atlantic. Here, 

 in 1872, the parapet wall, which is three feet thick, 

 was thrown down by the waves for 100 yards, though 

 1 20 feet above the sea. Just below there is a 

 landing-place. As we continue our way, the ocean 

 lies on one hand and the towering, fantastic-shaped 

 rocks on the other. By casting the eyes upwards 

 toward the west, at an immense height against the 

 sky, a curious-shaped projection of stone may be 

 remarked, and resembling some animal in its pro- 

 portions. 



Below, standing abruptly out of the wonderfully 

 tinted water, is a solitary rock known as the " Blue 

 Man." Some quaint old superstition prevails about 

 it, I know not what ; but when workmen em- 

 ployed on the buildings from the mainland are 

 bidding farewell to the island, they invariably cast 

 at it some well-worn article of clothing, oftener than 

 not a pair of shoes. 



