Anniversary Address. 17 



Bass is inaccessible, save on one flat shelvy point to the S.E. 

 The south and north sides of this point are the only two 

 landing places. The fortalice is situated immediately above, 

 and commands these j)oints. At one time the fort could 

 only be reached by ladders, or a wicket and a chain ; but 

 this was improved by a stair in the ramparts. The fort and 

 the dungeons are unroofed and in ruins. Blackadder's Cell 

 is still pointed out, with its three iron-barred windows, to 

 the west. When the Bass became the bastile of Scotland — 

 the state prison for the Covenanters — the chapel was con- 

 verted into a powder magazine ; but the niches for the fonts 

 show it to have been built prior to the Reformation. The 

 Bass was the last place that yielded to the dominion of 

 William III., and held out for several years after the Revolu- 

 tion. In 1706 the government handed it over to Sir Hew 

 Dalrymple, and dismantled the forts and prison. 



The following are the principal of the present inhabitants 

 of the Bass. The Solan Goose, or Gannet, measuring 6 feet 

 from tip to tip of the wings ; the large Black Gull, about 5 

 feet ; the large Blue Gull, about 4 feet 9 inches ; the Kitti- 

 wake, about 3 feet 7 inches; the common Marrot or Guillemot, 

 abundant, 2 feet 8 inches ; the Puffin, or Tommy Norrie, 

 about 2 feet ; the Razor-billed Marrot, about 2 feet 4 inches ; 

 the Peregrine Falcon ; the large Raven ; the Eider Duck and 

 the Cormorant, with a number of small birds. The Solan 

 Goose is the most important, and is a large white bird with 

 a longigh neck and strong formidable bill. It is almost 

 peculiar to the Bass and Ailsa Craig ; and at the time of our 

 visit was flying in hundreds. The female hatches only one 

 egg; but should the egg be removed, she will lay as many as 

 twelve eggs, but leave her with her first egg and she will 

 lay no more. They come early in February, and linger till 

 October, although most leave the rock when the young are 

 taken, about August. The young are taken by the keeper 

 for their down, and the oil they contain. The flesh is of a 

 fishy flavour, and by no means a morsel, I should suppose, 



