110 WITH NATURE AND A CAMERA. 



his side. Whilst the captive remained quite still 

 several birds alighted beside him, but directly he 

 stirred they all promptly decamped. They were 

 soon back again, however, and fell to poking about 

 and examining the snare, at which pastime they 

 were solemnly engaged until their relative in bond- 

 age had regained his breath and began to beat his 

 wings violently. At this they started up to fly 

 away, but one of them suddenly discovered that he 

 was unable to do so. He had become inextricably 

 entangled, and without the slightest ado set about 

 his fellow-prisoner, evidently thinking that he was 

 the author of all the mischief. 



After they had fought and argued, argued and 

 fought, alternately, over the matter for several 

 minutes, they effected a temporary reconciliation 

 and lay on their sides quite still. Presently the 

 other Puffins came back, and alighting, looked on 

 in gaping wonderment, everyone, however, taking 

 flight in the most precipitate manner directly either 

 of the entangled birds stirred. 



In a little while two more Tammy Nories became 

 fast, and fought with their companions in misfortune 

 precisely as these had done with each other. 



Finlay Gillies stepped along the crag, and sitting 

 down upon one of the stones securing the snare 

 with as much, and probably far more, composure 

 than he would have shown in a studio had his 

 portrait taken, along with that of the birds he had 

 secured, in a position from which the slightest slip 

 would have meant a headlong plunge of five hun- 

 dred feet into the ocean below. Some idea may 

 be gathered of the nature of the place when it is 

 stated that the photographer had to be held securely 

 by a rope whilst making the study. 



Two of the Puffins were secured by both legs, 



