26 ISLANDS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC. 



The Filroer arc more completely wtislied by the tepid stream from the tropics 

 than any other North Atlantic islands, the influence of the cold surface currents 

 beino- felt only on the east side. The mean temperature of the warm waters varies 

 no more than 4° throughout the year — from 45° 5' in January to 49° in July, 

 while that of the atmosphere scarcely exceeds 12° between winter and summer. 

 The atmospheric temperature is about 37° in the middle of January, when it is 

 freezing in many parts of the Mediterranean ; and although the sky is overcast 

 or charo-ed with drizzling vapours, what is felt is rather the want of light than of 

 heat. Hence the fields mostly face southwards, in order to catch every ray of 

 sunshine. But while the winters are free from hoar frost, the summers lack warmth, 

 and storm's are frequent. 



The only wild mammals were formerly various species of mice ; but since the 

 middle of the century a species of hare (Lqnis ilpinus) has been introduced, and 

 has multiplied considerably in Stromo and (Jstero. There are no reptiles or 

 amphibious animals, and all attempts to acclimatize the grouse have failed. On the 

 other hand, there are myriads of sea-birds, especially on the uninhabited islets, 

 and 235,000 loons {Fratercula arctica) are yearly taken, their feathers forming an 

 important article of trade. Fish swarm in the shallow waters, and the Faroer 

 banks, especially the Bono Bed, are much frequented during the season. The fish 

 is mostly cured on the spot, but many English boats arc provided with tanks in 

 which the cod are brought alive to the London market. 



Cooing whales (De/phinns mc/as or (jJohicepH, the heal of the natives) and other 

 cetacea sometimes arrive in great numbers, affording the people an important, 

 though irregular source of income. This whale visits these shores chiefly in 

 summer and autumn, and especially in foggy weather (rjri)uleinôrke, or grindevcir, 

 from grind, a school of whales). When a fishing crew discovers a grind in the 

 neighbourliood of the Archipelago, a sailor's jersey is immediately hoisted, the 

 smacks collect from all quarters, the men shouting "Grinde bo ! grinde bo!" and 

 a gradually contracted crescent is formed round the fish, which are thus driven to 

 some gently sloping beach between two headlands. Then begins the dmb, or 

 slaughter, in which nearly all the natives take part. During thirty years the 

 heaviest take was in 1843, when 3,150 cooing whales yielded over 90,000 gallons of 

 oil, and jerked meat for about 600 cows, to the great improvement of their milk. 



Formerly the men would never begin fishing until satisfied that no woman or 

 priest was looking on from the shore, else they were sure to meet with some 

 mishap. Other venerable beliefs have long held their ground in these remote 

 islands. The seeds of the Entdda (jUjnJohium, drifted from the "West Indies, were 

 supposed to possess sovereign virtues, and before Debes discovered that they were 

 "West Indian beans" they passed for the kidneys of some mysterious dwarf, or 

 even the heart of St. Thomas. Hence, ground to meal, they served as a remedy 

 for all complaints, especially those of women in labour. Certain wells were 

 regarded as holy, and, in the absence of the priest, parents would baptize their 

 children at these places. The old worship of springs had survived, although the 

 first inhabitants of the isles were traditionally Irish monks. 



