428 CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES. 



One collector has made a special point of securing eggs of unusual shapes and 

 sizes, irrespective of their ornament, and in this way has obtained a series, varying 

 in size from a double-yolked Guillemot egg weighing 6 oz. to a small example the size 

 of the egg of a blackbird. In shape he has specimens assuming extraordinary out- 

 lines, resembling sausages, bottles, and other'unusual forms. 



To obtain the eggs it is necessary to climb the cliffs by means of ropes. This is 

 accomplished by gangs of ' dimmers,' and their operations are a sight not soon 

 forgotten. There are four or five gangs, consisting of four men each, and a gang 

 restricts its operations to a definite part of the cliffs. The outfit of the dimmer 

 consists of two stout hemp ropes, two hempen loops or ' breeches,' an iron spike 

 surmounted by a pulley, two linen bags which are hung from the sides of the dimmer 

 and crossed over to the opposite shoulder, and last, but not least, a good hat, which 

 is stuffed with hay or other padding. This latter item, which formerly took the form of 

 a ' billy-cock,' a superannuated top-hat, or a soldier's helmet, since the war has 

 given place to a ' tin hat,' is a very important item in the ' rig ' of a dimmer, who 

 knows no fear beyond that of falling pieces of chalk, which sometimes are dislodged 

 and drop upon him. Broken Head, a name given to one part of the cliffs, indicates 

 the spot where the padding was not sufficiently effective. Accidents, however, are 

 ot exceedingly rare occurrence ; in fact, by no means so common as they are in what 

 might be looked upon as much safer occupations. 



The method of climbing is as follows : — The dimmer places his legs through the 

 two loops fastened to the end of a lowering rope, which is inserted in an iron pulley 

 stuck in the ground near the cliff edge. His mates sit on the grass above with their 

 heels firmly implanted in the soil, and with the rope wrapped round them, a broad 

 leather belt preventing the sliding rope from doing harm. The dimmer backs 

 towards the cliff edge, slides over, and is lowered. A second or guide rope hangs down 

 by means of which he can signal and inform those above whether he wishes to be 

 pulled up or lowered. His hands are filled with grass as a protection from the chafing 

 of the rope, and as he descends or ascends he collects the eggs from the ledges and 

 places them in the bags at his sides, a hooked stick enabling him to reach any awkward 

 positions. The dexterous manner in which the dimmer can seize the eggs and skip 

 along the ledges is the result of years of practice, and viewed from the cliff top the 

 sight of a mere speck of humanity, swaying to and fro as he throws himself from ledge 

 to ledge, is memorable. In one part, where the cliffs considerably overhang, a steel 

 rope has been secured to the face, by means of which the operator is able to draw 

 himself under until loaded, when he swings back to the perpendicular. When his 

 linen bags are fairly full of eggs a signal is given, one hears the command ' Oop,' and 

 hand over hand the rope is hauled in, until the head of the dimmer appears over the 

 ledge of the cliff. He is then able to take his weight from the rope and assist himself 

 up the slope. The eggs are placed in a basket, unusually ' pretty ' or rarely marked 

 eggs being put on one side, the remainder being sold at twopence or threepence each. 



The season commences in the third week in May, and finishes at the end of June, 

 or, at the latest, the first week in July, during which period, according to Mr. E. W. 

 Wade's calculations, each gang collects from 300 to 400 eggs daily, or, allowing for 

 wet weather, an average of 130,000 eggs per season. These are sold to collectors; 

 and are also made use of in other ways. Notwithstanding this enormous draw upon 

 the eggs, there appears to be no diminution in the numbers of the birds ; in fact, 

 according to some authorities, they increase annually. 



The Peregrine Falcon within recent years made its appearance on these cliffs, 

 selecting its nesting place near Danes' Dyke in 1907 and 1908, and subsequently near 

 Raincliffe (Buckton), where the cliff rises to 436 feet, the highest point of the Flam- 

 borough range. It was hoped that this magnificent bird would continue to nest 

 here. It was strictly protected by the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, but it only 

 remained for a few years. 



As a contrast between the conditions which prevailed at Flamborough about 

 a hundred and fifty years ago and those which now obtain, I quote an account of 

 a visit to Flamborough on July 3, 1769. It is extracted from Pennant's ' A Tour 

 in Scotland,' which was printed in Cheshire in 1771. Pennant visited Scotland via 

 the East Coast, and called at Flamborough on his way. 



' Went to Flamborough Head. The town is on the north side, consists of about 

 one hundred and fifty small houses, entirely inhabited by fishermen, few of whom, 

 as is said, die in their beds, but meet their fate in the element they are conversant in. 

 Put myself under the direction of William Camidge, Cicerone of the place, who 





