222 The Naturalist of Cumbrae. 



myriads of jelly-fish in that particular locality on any 

 chance visit, but another sight, even more beautiful, 

 which the travellers enjoyed, is almost as persistent 

 as the islands themselves. Tier above tier, and hole 

 above hole, in rows round the shelving rocks, close 

 together sit the sea-fowl, in general, species by species 

 at their respective elevations, the kittiwakes lowest, 

 the foolish guillemots with their black heads next, 

 and the herring-gulls above. 



Mr. Robertson understood that the knitting in- 

 dustry of the Shetlands at that period brought in 

 from fifteen to sixteen thousand pounds annually. 



In reference to a statement, made perhaps more 

 than half in jest, that neither man nor woman was 

 ever to be seen on horseback there not busily engaged 

 in knitting, Mr. Gatherer told him that, during all the 

 many years he had been in Shetland, he had never 

 seen any one knitting on horseback, although it was 

 common enough to meet women walking along the 

 road and knitting apparently with ease. 



If it could be determined by some experiment, it 

 would be interesting to know whether any time is 

 really saved by doing two things at once. There are 

 who boast that they can knit and at the same time 

 read a book with enjoyment, but it is probable that 

 some detriment results either to the mechanical effort 

 or to the mental, or to both. 



The Shetland women have some excuse for wishing 

 to double their parts, for it appears that the chief 

 portion of the drudgery falls to their share. They cut 

 the peats and carry them home on their backs. For 

 this purpose a creel made of straw rope, and called a 



