SEA-FOWL SHOOTING IN THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 143 



site of some of their exploits was pointed out. One inviting 

 snip of rock juts out upon a line with the walls of the fortress, 

 on which the riflemen take their station. They have seldom 

 long to wait ere a gannet settles upon this point. It was 

 called " Baird's shot," from some steady-handed Baird having 

 frequently perforated his goose. Upon looking steadily at the 

 distance, I could not reckon it more than seventy or eighty 

 yards. Taking everything into consideration, the cool post of 

 the shooter, and the fair position of his mark, a first-rate rifle- 

 man ought seldom to miss. 



The only small birds I saw on the Bass were a couple of rock 

 pipits, feeding among the withered sea-ware close to the land- 

 ing bay. Their nest no doubt was near, and they had chosen 

 a place to build it upon, which did not belie their name. 

 Those inheritors of dilapidation and decay, the jackdaws, sum 

 up the zoology I noticed on the Bass Eock. The old ram- 

 part walls and chapel had most likely tempted them over the 

 sea from Tantallon Castle. Having satisfied my curiosity, and 

 procured all the specimens I wanted, we hoisted our sail and 

 steered for Canty Bay. Numbers of the common gull were 

 flitting about us on our passage, although I had seen none on 

 the Bass. 



When stripping the solan of his best fly-feathers, old Jack 

 remarked that the wing-pinions were excellent for writing- 

 quills. He had often commissions from the village teachers in 

 the neighbourhood for a supply. There was a good deal of oil 

 about them, which the schoolmasters extract by cutting off the 

 ends of the quills and soaking them in warm water. I took 

 out my penknife and made one or two into toothpicks ; upon 

 which Jack assured me that I would find them " far praefer- 

 able to a prin " (pin). 



There can scarcely be a more inviting resting-place than 

 Canty Bay ; a cheerful sunny beach of smoothest sand, en- 

 closed by rising hillocks covered with wild-flowers ; the bold 

 ocean-waves rolling before, and the bolder ocean-rock in full 



