44 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



first notice that the rocks were covered with an 

 extremely thin coating of marine vegetation in the 

 shape of a yellowish-green sea- weed, the same being 

 kept continually moist by the passage of a trickling 

 spring which issued from a crevice in the solid rock 

 above. My boots, being heavily nailed as a precau- 

 tionary safeguard when traversing turfy slopes, were 

 doubly treacherous for rock-travelling. My first 

 footsteps, then, over this state of things were thus very 

 naturally succeeded by a fall which sent self, gun, and 

 bird, rolling over, pellmell, in rapid downward course 

 towards the sea. Arrived at the extreme edge of the 

 watery element, my progress was fortunately stayed, as 

 rising somewhat bruised, but more especially concerned 

 as to the welfare of my gun, the bronzing of whose 

 barrels could not be said to be improved by the process, 

 and meeting with no incident of noteworthy remark, I 

 continued my journey homewards. 



On the morning of the 5th of June, the wind being 

 too boisterous and the sea too unruly for any kind of 

 aquatic excursion, I determined upon an inland expedi- 

 tion, and accordingly set off in the direction of the 

 Loch of Steanhouse. 



Leaving Stromness on the east side, and well pro- 

 vided with No. 4 and No. 8 shot, royal and green car- 

 tridges, I pursued my journey, and skirting the 

 extremity of the bay, my road at last diverged in three 

 directions. Taking the centre one, which mounted a 



