THE GUILLEMOT. 



155 



geners. Towards the top of the cliffs, both rabbits 

 and foxes have descended from the table land above 

 them, and managed to find a shelter among the 

 crevices, in places where you would suppose that no 

 four-footed animal would ever dare to venture. A 

 low mound, half earth, half stone, thrown up by the 

 farmers for the protection of their flocks, skirts the 

 winding summit of the precipice. Cattle have been 

 known to surmount this artificial boundary, and lose 

 their lives in the roaring surge below. 



This extensive range of rocks, as far as appertains 

 to birds, is not considered private property. Any 

 person who can climb it may carry away what num- 

 ber of eggs he chooses. Still there is a kind of 

 honourable understanding betwixt the different sets 

 of climbers, that they will not trespass over the 

 boundaries which have been marked by mutual 

 consent. 



The eggs of the guillemot and razorbills form a 

 considerable article of traffic from old May-day till 

 about the middle of June. Though the eggs of the 

 kittiwake and puffin are of fully as good a flavour, 

 still they are not in such request, on account of 

 their tender shells, which are easily broken in pack- 

 ing, and in transporting from place to place. 



The usual process of seeking for the eggs is 

 generally carried on by three men, though two will 

 suffice in case of necessity. Having provided them- 

 selves with two ropes of sufficient length and 

 strength, they drive an iron bar into the ground^ 

 about 6 in. deep, on the table land at the top of the 

 precipice. To this bar is fastened the thickest of 

 the two ropes, and then it is thrown down the rocks. 



