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THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Notwithstanding their small size and comparative obscurity, 

 these storm-vexed rocks in a setting of grey sea, and running 

 parallel with the bleak inhospitable coast of Northumbria, have 

 in themselves a remarkable history, for from the middle of the 

 seventh century to the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536 

 they were the chosen residence and retreat of bishops, monks, 

 and recluses more or less connected in their lives with the 

 ancient church of Lindisfarne. Here on the chief island for 

 many years lived the saintly Aidan; and later, stern St. Cuthbert, 

 and subsequently many another worthy — the ancient Fathers of 

 the early Christian Church. 



Here was preserved, in ages of darkness, ignorance, and 

 almost constant strife, all that was best worth treasuring of the 

 early history of our national existence. Within the circle of 

 those dark basaltic crags was born that spiritual force and energy 

 which in 1 time subdued and held beneath its beneficent sway a 

 barbarous and cruel race, spreading the light of truth and civili- 

 zation through the length and breadth of heathen Northumbria. 

 There is perhaps no other district in the United Kingdom to 

 which we may turn with greater interest than to ancient Bam- 

 boroughshire and its attendant islets. The whole of the district 

 is rich in historical tradition and lore, and there is a constant and 

 ever-varying change of beautiful scenery to be found, both wild 

 and cultivated, within its bounds. 



At the present day the chief interest of the Fame Islands, 

 more especially to the naturalist, is the presence of countless 

 thousands of sea-birds which assemble there in the nesting 

 season. These barren rocks are the summer home of those 

 wild wandering children of ocean which at other seasons are found 

 scattered over hundreds of miles of the northern seas. Thanks 

 to the exertions of an Association of Ornithologists and others 

 who now lease the islands, the birds are well cared for and 

 protected, so that it is now a pleasure to visit and study them in 

 their haunts, conscious of the fact that they are not doomed to 

 speedy extinction by the importation of boat-loads of ill-conducted 

 and greedy excursionists from the Tees and Tyne^ So great, we 

 are assured, had become the depredations, that had it not been 

 for the timely interference of the Association, the birds nesting 

 on the Fame Islands would have before this been exterminated. 



A desire to see the bird-nurseries under the beneficent rule of 



