XXYI 
BirDs, 
Farr Isre, 
Ole RAR be ey St 
probable that it is from hence, as well as from Norway, that it migrates, in the 
‘beginning of winter, to the more fouthern parts of Britains Moft of the Waders 
migrate; but they muft receive confiderable reinforcements from the moft diftant 
parts of the north, to fill the numbers which cover our fhores. The cliffs are of 
a moft ftupendous height, and quite mural to the very fea. The Berry Head is an 
exalted precipice, with an auguft cave at the bottom, opening into the fea. The 
Ern Eagles poflefs, by diftant pairs, the upper part of the rocks: neither thefe nor- 
any other Falcons will bear fociety ; but, as Pliny elegantly exprefies it, Adultos per- 
Sequitur parens et longé fugat, amulos feilicet raping. Et alioquin unum par aquilarum 
magno ad populandum traéiu, ut fatietur, indiget *. Auks, Corvorants, and all the 
tribes which love exalted fituations, breed by thoufands in the other parts. The 
Tyfte, or Black Guillemot, N° 236, fecures itfelf in a crack in the rock, or by 
fcraping a burrow in the little earth it may find; there it lays a fingle egg, 
of a dirty olive blotched with a darker. This f{pecics never migrates from the 
Orknies. The Foolifh Guillemot, N° 436, continues till November. ‘The 
Little Auk, N° 429, a rare bird in other parts of Britain, breeds in the holes 
of the lofty precipices. And the Lyre, or the Sheerwater, N° 462, burrows in 
the earth among the rocks of Hoy and Eda, and forms an article of com= 
merce with its feathers, and of food with its flefh, which is falted and kept 
for the provifion of the winter. In that feafon they are feen fkimming the ocean 
at moft furprizing diftances from land. The Stormy Petrel, N° 464, breeds fre- 
quently among the loofe ftones; then takes to fea and affrights the fuperftitious 
failor with its appearance. Woodcocks fcarcely ever appear here. Fieldfares make 
this afhort baiting-place : and the Snow Bunting, N° 122, often alights and covers 
whole tracts of country, driven by the froft from the fartheft north. 
A few Wild Swans breed in fome lochs in Mainland ; but the greateft part of 
thefe birds, all the-Bernacles, Brent Geefe, and feveral other palmated birds, 
retire in the fpring to more northern latitudes. But to the Swallow-tailed Duck, 
the Pintail, and a few others, this is a warm climate; for they retire here to pafs 
their winters in the fheltered bays. Any other remarks may be intermixed with 
thofe on Schetland ; for there is great fimiliarity of fubje&ts in both the groups. 
‘The laft lie about fixty miles to the north-eaft of the moft northern Orkney. Mid- 
way is Fair Ifland, a {pot about three miles long, with high and rocky fhores, in- 
habited by about a hundred and feventy people: an induftrious race; the men 
fifhers ; the women knitters and fpinners. The depth of water round varies to 
twenty-fix fathoms. ‘The tide divides at the north end, runs with great velocity, 
and forms on the eaft fide a confiderable eddy. 
® Hf, Nat. lib. x. c. 3. ceed 
chetlan 
