Rockall. 69 
periodical— CHAMBERS’S JOURNAL, a monthly publication pub- 
lished at Edinburgh, . . . was from the pen of a yachtsman, 
who, along with a companion, landed on the rock, having been 
conveyed there by a steam-yacht. It gave a most graphic 
description,” ete. 
This only shows how hard it is to “kill a lie,” for it had 
been to all purpose killed—or maimed considerably—before, 
in The Annals of Scottish Natural History immediately after 
its issue. 
I am still of the opinion, however, without desiring to 
be ultra-critical, that the mis-statements ought to have 
received editorial reproof promptly, and that it is not even yet 
too late to “scotch” them. 
I have never seen the very good Admiralty chart (No. 
2870, 1861)—now unobtainable—and which gives views of 
the rock and other information. 
At the Geological Museum, London, inquiries have been 
made as to the geology of the rock, and they know absolutely 
nothing about it (Miller Christy in letter, January 31, 1895). 
Now, as regards any slight information which I procured 
in Feré6e—July 1894—I give it as received. 
Herr H. C. Miiller, who kindly assisted me in procuring 
some of the notes from smack-owners and others, pe in 
my hands the following note and a translation. 
Captain Johannes Hansen of Thorshavn was on Rockall 
in 1887. He says: “The rock is 70 feet high, steep on the 
northward side, sloping to the contrary side 50 feet, with 
ledges (shelves). He went up on the east side, but could not 
get down again unless by the assistance of a rope. The birds 
he saw and took—as they were very tame—were members 
of Uria bruennichii, Alca torda, Fulmar, and Great Shear- 
water. The Pufiinus major had their eggs deposited in holes 
in the rock. No vegetation. The rock was white over with 
guano. The rock was solid. He does not think that the 
sea ever washed over it. The depth of the sea where he 
landed was 60 fathoms.” The above was taken down in 
Danish, and translated by Herr H. C. Miiller for my benefit. 
Afterwards Mr Jens Olsen—Herr Miiller’s son-in-law— 
the principal storekeeper and fishcurer in Thorshavn, who 
