ROCK-FOWLING IN THE ORKNEY ISLANDS. 353 



of the Faroe Islands are termed Lundes, which are simply described 

 as large birds, "black on the back, and white under the belly."* 



The fowlers have a method of capturing these birds flying : they 

 provide themselves with a net similar to a cripple-net or a shrimp- 

 net, but with a longer staff and larger meshes. This net they term 

 a " stang of staffe." Equipped with one of these, the fowler places 

 himself, at twilight, on a cliff near the bird-colonies, or in the ures 

 between the rocks (which he terms " flight-places") most frequented 

 by the birds. On the lunde flying either to or from the cliffs, he 

 suddenly raises the net, so as to intercept its flight; and, if he is 

 expert in the art, he captures the bird. A skilful performer is some- 

 times enabled to take two hundred lundes in a few hours. 



The proceedings connected with this method of fowling, are more 

 difficult and dangerous to behold than can be described. The 

 fowlers climb up from below, where the cliffs are steep as a wall ; or 

 they are let down from above by a stout hemp rope. 



A portion of the birds taken by the fowlers are eaten whilst fresh : 

 others are hung up, dried, and preserved as provisions for the 

 winter. 



* Vide " Fseroa Reserata ;" translated from the Danish by Jno. Sterpin. 



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