BIRD-CATCHING IN SHETLAND. 271 



Many of the birds of the two latter tribes, 

 either from their feathers, skins, oil, or eggs, are 

 considered, as it were, the standard harvest of the 

 poor people, who, like them, are destined to abide 

 amidst the wild and lonely islands of the ocean; 

 it is, therefore, natural to suppose that no means 

 are neglected, no ingenuity left untried in providing, 

 whether for rent, clothing, food, or the lamp-light 

 of their long and dreary Winter's nights, by laying 

 in a store of each of these important articles, for 

 which they are indebted to their companions, the 

 sea-birds. And as the risks and difficulties which 

 they encounter and overcome, form leading fea- 

 tures in their lives, we shall close our account with 

 a few of the hazardous and interesting details 

 connected with the reaping of this their fearful 

 harvest. 



It is chiefly on the most rugged shores of Scot- 

 land, or on the more rugged rocks of the several 

 adjacent islands, or still further to the north, in the 

 Shetland or Ferroe Islands, that this " dreadful trade" 

 is carried on in the perfection of its horrors; though 

 in some parts of Wales, as, for instance, near the 

 South Stack above-mentioned, and the Needle Rocks 

 off the Isle of Wight, adventurous climbers will occa- 

 sionally exhibit feats of perilous achievement, quite 

 sufficient to satisfy most beholders. In some parts 

 of the coast, immense mounds or fragments of rocks 

 have been cut off from the main land by terrible 

 convulsions of nature, or the incessant wearing of 

 waves through fissures and narrow channels for suc- 

 cessive ages. On a few of these spots, sea-birds, 

 for a time, rested securely, till some bold adventurers 



