Notes on Stela Sgeir and North Bona, with List of Birds. 55 



is in part grassy. This, I think, is an error, as I only saw a 

 few patches of the common sea pink {Armeria maritima). 

 He also refers to the existence of the ruins of several stone 

 huts or houses near the south-east end, and says that near 

 the same spot are those of a small cell called Tigh Bean- 

 naichte (Blessed house), 14 feet long, the width varying from 

 8 feet in the centre, to 6 feet 4 inches at the ends. The roof 

 is curved and covered with stone slabs. The door, which is 

 placed on the south-west side, is 3 feet 5 inches in height. 

 There is also a small window in the east end, under which is 

 an altar stone 2 feet 8 inches in length. MacLeod informed 

 me that the huts were built by the Lewis men, who live in 

 them for the seven or eight days they take in killing and 

 packing the young gannets, or any longer time they may 

 have to stay on the island, owing to the sudden springing up 

 of a gale. 



The cell mentioned by Mr Muir was probably erected for 

 the use of those who came from Bona or Lewis for a similar 

 purpose in Eoman Catholic times. On one occasion, now 

 some years ago, a crew from Ness in the latter island had 

 their boat wrecked in landing at Sula Sgeir in the month of 

 June, and lived on the island for several weeks, sustaining 

 themselves on the flesh of birds. Captain Oliver, who com- 

 manded the Eevenue cruiser " Prince of Wales," visited Sula 

 Sgeir in the month of August to look for the lost boat. He 

 found the wreck of it, also an oar on end with an old pair of 

 canvas trousers on it, and over the remains of a fire a pot 

 containing birds' flesh ; but there being no trace of the men, 

 it was thought they must have been picked up by a passing 

 vessel. Nothing more was heard of them until the month of 

 October following, when a Eussian vessel on her homeward 

 voyage met a Stornoway craft in the Orkneys, and informed 

 the crew of the latter that they had taken the men off Sula 

 Sgeir and landed them in Bona. Captain Oliver at once 

 went to Bona, and found the crew consuming the last barrel 

 of potatoes which the poor shepherd had. He took away the 

 former, and left the latter sufficient provision for the winter. 

 Having thus quoted all the published descriptions of Sula 

 Sgeir that I know of, I shall proceed with my own notes. 



