888 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



of the accounts are tinged with no small amount of 

 hyperbole and exaggeration. There can be no doubt, 

 however, that as clifters and cragsmen they are unsur- 

 passed, and it was a treat to see them negotiating difficult 

 rock faces where but little foothold or handhold could be 

 obtained, or walking with perfect ease and celerity upon 

 narrow ledges overlooking tremendous precipices. They 

 are remarkably sure-footed, and their heads seem to be 

 quite unaffected by any amount of vertical depth below 

 thorn. They are not, however, foolhardy, but take all 

 reasonable precautions, never climbing alone, and always 

 going roped together whenever particular caution is 

 required. The usual method adopted when descending 

 the steep grassy slopes, or less difficult cliffs, is for two 

 men to go roped together, the first man working the 

 fowling rod, whilst the hind man supports him, and guards 

 against a slip, though cases have occurred, as in Alpine 

 accidents, where the second man has been pulled over by 

 the first slipping, and thus two lives have been sacrificed 

 instead of one. The more difficult places, however, are 

 negotiated by three men with two ropes, which are worked 

 by two men at the top of the cliff, whilst the third is 

 lowered down with one of the ropes tied round his waist, 

 and holding the other as a guide. Before starting on their 

 big expeditions the ropes are carefully tested. It must 

 not be supposed, however, that all the climbs in St. Kilda 

 are the desperate undertakings which some writers make 

 out. Many of them can be undertaken with proper pre- 

 caution by any oik 1 with a fair knowledge of clifting. 

 There remain, however, many really difficult places where 

 few people would care to follow the natives. Of these 

 Stack Biorrach in Soay Sound is looked upon as one of the 

 crack climbs of the place, though the old story about a 

 man not being able to got a wife until he had proved his 



