A VISIT TO ST. KILDA. 165 



Donald's example ; not a bird was foolish enough 

 to wait for me to place the noose over its head, 

 and in spite of all my care and cunning I did not 

 snare a single Fulmar. All the sea-birds that 

 frequent the islands are caught in this manner. 

 As soon as they are taken the fowler usually breaks 

 their necks and hangs them in his belt, or ties 

 them by the neck in bunches. Most of the 

 Puffins, however, are caught in horse-hair nooses 

 which are fixed on cords and set in various parts 

 of the cliffs and downs where the birds breed. The 

 women attend to most of these Puffin snares. 

 Great numbers of Puffins and Shearwaters are 

 taken from their holes, either by the fowler himself 

 or his dog, which is trained for the purpose. When 

 climbing the more difficult parts of the cliffs the 

 St. Kildans go in parties ; sometimes two men 

 go together, more often three or four one de- 

 scending the cliffs, the others standing on the 

 summit to manipulate the ropes and to assist their 

 companion to explore those parts of the rocks 

 where eggs and birds are most abundant. One 

 of the ropes is generally fastened round the 

 climber's waist, and paid out by the men at the 

 top as it is required, whilst the other rope is 

 suspended over the cliff by a stake, and is used to 



