272 BIRD-CATCHING. 



devised the means of invading their territories, cross- 

 ing the space by means of cradles, suspended on 

 ropes thrown across. 



At Carrick-a-Reade, near the Giant's Causeway, 

 in Ireland, and in the Shetland Islands, two of these 

 airy conveyances are still in use, and, until a sus- 

 pension-bridge was erected a few years ago, a third, 

 and tolerably commodious and safe one, existed, 

 connecting the South Stack rock with Holyhead 

 mountain, in lieu of an original and far more primi- 

 tive machine, which was, for a time, of necessity 

 resorted to by those who wished to inspect the works 

 on the island. It consisted of a small box, sus- 

 pended on two strong ropes swung across a chasm 

 of about a hundred and fifty feet, commencing its 

 journey from a projecting point, about half way down 

 the precipice of the main land, from which the pas- 

 senger was vaulted over the gulf, by a rope leading to 

 the island: a journey which, together with the scram- 

 bling down the unprotected face of the precipice, was 

 sufficiently disagreeable and alarming, to convey a 

 correct idea of the far more terrific communica- 

 tions adopted in less frequented places; such as that 

 in Shetland, between the headland of Bressa, a sort 

 of column rising out of the sea to the height of three 

 or four hundred feet above its level, and not more 

 than four yards in diameter on its summit. It is said 

 that this cradle, by which the inhabitants pass easily 

 and readily, and, from habit, without any fear of 

 danger, was erected by a bold man in the neighbour- 

 hood, who mounted the hitherto supposed inaccessible 

 sides of the rock. A great number of people were 

 assembled, expecting to see him lose his footing, and 



