100 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. VI. 



on me as an intruder on what they had already 

 established their right to. 



Leaving them in undisturbed possession, I con- 

 tinued my way on to the north side, and in due time 

 arrived on the summit of the cliffs which stretch the 

 whole length of the island ; and there was a sight 

 which would alone repay many a weary mile of 

 travel. Every crevice and every ledge of the rock 

 was literally full of guillemots and razor-bills, while 

 hundreds of puffins came out of their holes under 

 the stones near the summit of the cliffs to examine 

 and wonder at us. The guillemots stood in long 

 lines along the shelves of the rocks, frequently 

 within a few feet of the top whence we were looking 

 at them. With a kind of foolish expression these 

 birds looked at us, but did not take the trouble 

 to move. The razor-bills, though equally tame, 

 seemed more ready to take flight, if we had been 

 inclined to assail them. When I fired off my gun, 

 not at, but over, the birds, the guillemots only 

 ducked their heads, and then looked up at us ; 

 whereas most of the razor-bills took a short flight 

 out to sea, but quickly returned again to their 

 perch on the rocks. 



Being provided with plenty of rope, two stout 

 boatmen, and also a slender-looking lad, who had 

 volunteered to accompany us, having the repute of 



