SIR A. GEIKIE'S RECOLLECTIONS 281 



air or in the water. In the course of a few days sun, 

 wind, rain, and salt spray told on his complexion, which 

 then assumed a ruddiness that would have astonished 

 the inmates of Magdalene College. The sharpness of his 

 eyesight in the detection of birds on the wing, even 

 when he had nearly reached the age of seventy years, 

 was always an astonishment to his companions. And 

 the enthusiasm with which each fresh form was greeted 

 by him as it flew overhead became infectious to all on 

 board. . . . 



These cruises formed an important element in 

 Newton's life during his later years. He looked forward 

 to them with almost "boyish exuberance and delighted 

 afterwards to recount their varied incidents. They not 

 only provided a healthful and delightful holiday, but kept 

 him still in close personal touch with birds, which had 

 been the main interest and study of his life. In spite 

 of the lameness which was understood to have been the 

 result of an accident during infancy, he was often the 

 first to enter the boat which had been got ready for a 

 landing on some surf-beaten rock, or for a closer inspec- 

 tion of the caves and stacks at the foot of a bird- 

 haunted precipice. On such occasions, so self-dependent 

 was he, he would gently repel offers of the assistance 

 which was always at his service. It was only when 

 the increasing feebleness of his limbs would have made 

 such assistance indispensable that he reluctantly gave 

 up the annual cruise.* 



His first visit to St. Kilda was made in 1887 : 



The general sight is magnificent, but I have seen 

 taller cliffs and clifis more full of birds in Spitzbergen. 

 I think the St. Kilda minister is a very good fellow, 

 but I wish he would stop the cruelties that the lambs of 

 his flock perpetrate on innocent young birds, which 

 they bring away and torture for their own amusement. 

 I was afraid it would be thought unmannerly or I should 



* Sir Archibald Geikie, P.E.S. Proceedings of the Royal Society, 

 B. vol. 80, 1908- 



