100 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. VI. 



on me as an intruder on what they had already 

 established their right to. 



Leaving them in undisturbed possession, I con- 

 tinued my way on to the north side, and in due time 

 arrived on the summit of the cliffs which stretch the 

 whole length of the island ; and there was a sight 

 which would alone repay many a M^eary mile of travel. 

 Every crevice and every ledge of the rock was lite- 

 rally full of guillemots and razor-bills, while hun- 

 dreds of puffins came out of their holes under the 

 stones near the summit of the cliffs to examine and 

 wonder at us. The guillemots stood in long lines 

 along the shelves of the rocks, frequently within a 

 few feet of the top whence we were looking at 

 them. With a kind of foolish expression these 

 birds looked at us, but did not take the trouble to 

 move. Tlie razor-bills, though equally tame, 

 seemed more ready to take flight, if we had been 

 inclined to assail them. When I fired off my gun, 

 not at, but over, ths birds, the guillemots only 

 ducked their heads, and then looked up at us ; 

 whereas most of the razor-bills took a short flight 

 out to sea, but quickly returned again to their perch 

 on thft rocks. 



Being provided with plenty of rope, two stout 

 boatmen, and also a slender-looking lad, who had 

 volunteered to accompany us, having the repute of 



