348 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



island, where they are completely hemmed in by rocks 

 and cliffs, and cannot escape except by going over a 

 lofty precipice. Xot very rarely the sheep, when thus 

 cornered, chooses the latter alternative, and is, of course, 

 killed. But generally when they find themselves in this 

 predicament, they double back on their pursuers, and the 

 dogs take the opportunity thus presented of seizing them 

 as they rush past. Being so wild they are never shorn, 

 but the natives sometimes collect the wool which is 

 naturally shed, and mix it with the wool of their own 

 sheep when manufacturing the cloth. Two rams were 

 captured the day I was there ; one, in particular, a 

 beautiful, shapely animal, with a soft, dark brown coat, 

 just freshly acquired. When captured their fore and 

 hind legs are tied together, and they are slung over a 

 mail's back, and thus carried to the rocks, down which 

 they are lowered with a long rope into the boat. All 

 these sheep belong to the landlord, who charges the natives 

 the small sum of half-a-crown for each animal taken off 

 the island. The origin of the Soay sheep takes us back to 

 an interesting chapter in St. Kildan history, as set forth 

 in the traditions of the place. The islands have not been 

 in continuous possession of the family of the present pro- 

 prietor — MacLeod of MacLeod — although the original 

 ownership by this family dates back for several hundred 

 years. Towards the latter part of the eighteenth century, 

 however, it having been found necessary to part with a 

 portion of the family estates, St. Kilda was sold, and it 

 eventually passed into the possession of a Mr. Hume. 

 That gentleman leased the island to his factor, who was 

 resident in Harris, and this man appears to have used 

 very coercive measures towards the natives of the island 

 in order to squeeze as much rent out of them as possible. 

 1 1 is terrible to think how, in those days of complete 



