128 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



of any vegetation at all. All the peat has been burned long ago, 

 and the people have to bring their " fewel " from the Island of 

 Muckle Roe, at the head of the bay. The only part of the 

 island where any soil exists is the low-lying ground to the south, 

 and the fields there have been chiefly " built " by " scalping" the 

 rest of the island. This part contains all the houses, the popu- 

 lation — as Stour is an important fishing-station — being consider- 

 able, amounting to over 250 at the last census. This fertile part 

 is the haunt of most of the few land species of birds which 

 breed on the island. 



From here the slope is up to the N. and W., attaining a height 

 of 288 feet at Virda Field, N.E. of the " Horn," a huge spur of 

 rock which projects in a striking and picturesque manner above 

 the face, of the overhanging cliff. These northern and western 

 cliffs, along with the numerous fantastically-shaped stacks, and 

 the two larger islets, Fogla and Lyra, are the principal haunts of 

 the sea-fowl. 



Four and a half miles N.W. lie the low wave-washed rocks 

 called the Ve Skerries (Norse Ve, Woe). 



The inland barrens are almost totally devoid of life ; an 

 occasional pair of Ringed Plovers, or the still less frequent 

 Wheatear, is all that breaks their dreary stone-strewn desolation. 

 In the old times the men of Papa had a reputation as climbers 

 little inferior to those of Unst or Foula, but for many years past 

 climbing has been almost entirely given up, and I was informed 

 that only two men on the island are now able to make the ascent 

 of the Lyra Skerry. I was fortunate enough, on the occasion 

 of my second visit, to secure the services of the best of these 

 men. He rejoices in the name of " Long Peter," and certainly 

 deserves the adjective, standing some 6 ft. 3 in. in his "rivlins" 

 (raw cowhide shoes worn by the Shetlanders). I had a good 

 illustration, during the course of the day, of the great advantage 

 his enormous reach gives him in cliff climbing. 



On Friday, June 13th, 1890, the wind being favourable though 

 rather strong, Mr. Scott, of Melby, and I crossed the Sound, and 

 landed in Papa, but it was not till 4 p.m. that arrangements were 

 completed for a visit to the Stacks. We pulled out of Hamna 

 Voe in a light " sixern," keeping well in shore to avoid the wind, 

 which was getting rather strong, and passing on our way several 

 pinnacled stacks, each usually with its pair of Larus marinus 



