TO ORKNEY AND SHETLAND. 63 



tide returned to bring us back, during which all 

 we could do was to keep the boat's head to the sea. 

 At the time this happened I had a man with 

 me who pretended to be well acquainted with, and 

 able to pilot me about this neighbourhood,but of 

 course I never trusted to his pilotage afterwards. 

 I remained in Stromness about two months, and 

 visited all parts within twelve miles round. 



There is an inlet about seven miles to the south- 

 ward of Stromness called Lervvick-burn, which is 

 frequented by the Northern Diver, Red-throated 

 Diver, Eider Duck, Velvet Duck, Long -tailed Duck, 

 Red-breasted Merganser, Sheldrake, Black Guille- 

 mot, and Oyster-catcher. At the mouth of this inlet 

 I shot two specimens of the Horned Grebe ; about 

 a mile inland the ArcticGull breeds; Grouse, Snipes, 

 and Golden Plovers are plentiful on the hills, and 

 there is an island about half a mile distant, upon 

 which lie a considerable number of seals when the 

 tide begins to ebb, and where they will remain 

 during the ebb if they are not disturbed : those 

 who may wish to shoot them must approach very 

 cautiously ; they are generally to be found at the 

 lee side of the island. 



After having procured specimens of the different 

 birds inhabiting this neighbourhood, we started 

 for the Northern isles. I engaged a man to go with 



