180 BRITISH BIRDS. 



extermination (cf. Symington Grieve, The Great Auk, 

 London, 1885, 1 Vol., 4to, pp. 76 and 119). 



Robert Gray, in his invaluable work, " The Birds of 

 the West of Scotland " (Glasgow, MDCCCLXXL, 1 Vol., 

 Svo), p. 442, says, " It is, I think, doubtful whether 

 Martin ever saw the bird, as in another and larger work 

 entitled, ' A Description of the Western Islands of 

 Scotland,' published five years afterwards, and in which 

 he gives a full account of St. Kilda and its birds, he does 

 not even mention it, but it should be noted that the 

 description of the birds in this book is not in any way 

 so complete as that in the same author's ' A late Voyage 

 to St. Kilda.' " 



In this work Martin gives a considerable account of 

 the Solan Goose, and amongst other curious statements, 

 teUs us : — 



" The Solan Geese are always the surest sign of Her- 

 rings, for where-ever the one is seen, the other is always 

 not far off. There is a Tribe of Barren Solan Geese 

 which have no Nests, and sit upon the bare Rock ; these 

 are not the Young Fowls of an Year old, whose dark 

 colour would soon distinguish them, but old ones, in all 

 things like the rest ; these have a Province, as it were, 

 allotted to them, and are in a separated state from the 

 others, having a Rock two hundred Paces distant from 

 all other ; neither do they meddle with, or approach to 

 those Hatching, or any other Fowls ; they sympathize 

 and Fish together ; this being told me by the Inhabitants, 

 was afterwards confirmed to me several times by my 

 own observation " (1st ed., p. 52). 



And of the Fulmar : — 



" And when the young Fulmar is ready to take Wing, 

 he being approached, ejects a quantity of pure Oyl out 

 at his Bill, and will make sure to hit any that attacks 

 him, in the Face, though seven Paces distant .... but 

 the Inhabitants take care to prevent this by surprizing 

 the Fowl behind, having for this purpose a wooden dish 

 fixed to the end of their Rods, which they hold before 



