306 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Defends the Hocks from the eagle. 



transfix itself in its fall on the plunderers. The 

 Rev. Mr. Low, minister of Birfa, in Orkney, in- 

 forms us, that on his approaching the habitations 

 of these birds, they assailed him, and the com- 

 pany along with him, in the most violent manner; 

 and intimidated a bold dog in such a manner as 

 to drive him for protection to his master. The 

 natives are often very rudely treated by them 

 while they are attending their cattle on the hills; 

 and are frequently obliged to guard their heads 

 by holding up their sticks, on which (in the 

 manner mentioned above) the birds often kill 

 themselves. 



In Foula the skua gulls are privileged i being 

 said to defend the flocks from the attacks of the 

 eagle, which they beat off and pursue with great 

 fury ; so that even that rapacious bird seldom ven- 

 tures to approach the places where they inhabit. 

 The natives of Foula on this account impose a fine 

 upon any person who destroys one of these use- 

 ful defenders: and deny that they ever injure 

 their flocks or poultry; but imagine them to live 

 only on the dung of the Arctic gull and other 

 larger birds. 



The following is the account, given in Jacob- 

 son's History of the Feroe Islands, of the method 

 in which these birds are taken : " It cannot be 

 expressed w^ith what pains and danger they take 

 these birds in those high steep cliffs, whereof 

 many are two hundred fathoms high. But there 

 are men apt by nature and fit for the work, who 



