60 THE ORNITHOLOGIST^ GtTlDU 



Shetland by water, and the delays to which the tra- 

 veller is exposed on account of the weather; I have 

 frequently been out when boats have been swamped 

 not far from me, and considered myself extremely 

 fortunate in having escaped. 



It will not be necessary to give a minute de- 

 scription of the Orkney Islands > in appearance 

 they are similar to Shetland, but more fertile and 

 not so mountainous. Kirkwall is the capital, and 

 is far more pleasantly situated than Lerwick (the 

 capital of Shetland) and contains a greater number 

 of inhabitants, but I was not able to ascertain the 

 exact amount : the whole population of Orkney 

 is about thirty -three thousand. The ancient church 

 is built in the Gothic style and has three bells ; near 

 the church there is a beautiful ruin called the Old 

 Palace, and there are several very comfortable inns. 

 Stromness is the next town of note ; it is not so 

 pleasantly situated as Kirkwall, being, like Ler- 

 wick, situated on the side of a hill, but is the re- 

 sort of a far greater number of shipping than 

 Kirkwall, in consequence of there being a very 

 £ood harbour, and sufficient depth of water for 

 ships of a very large draught to anchor in front of 

 the town ; it also possesses the convenience of a 

 patent slip, erected last year, whereby vessels can 

 be drawn up for the purpose of repairs. There are 



