48 



STACK AND SKERRY. 



As far back as A.D. 1400, these islands, and probably also North 

 Konay and North Barray of the Hebrideaii group were known to 

 the Norsemen, and used by the Orkney Earls as a seal and egg- 

 preserve ; and even yet, when occasion offers, boats from Strom- 

 ness, and Tongue in Sutherland, go and harry them for eggs, as 

 was the case this year (1890), when something like one hundred 

 dozen of eggs were taken and sold in Stromness. 



Since the foregoing was written Professor Newton has visited 

 Stack, and, in a letter to us, he also remarks on the large number 

 of immature Gannets, a much larger percentage than is generally 

 seen in other more visited localities, and this he ascribes to the 

 same cause as ourselves, viz., from the eggs being less frequently 

 taken, and the birds being less frequently disturbed. 



