OF SUTHERLAND AND CAITHNESS. 
51 
Eev. Mr. Macpherson again accompanied xis, and the result was 
another enjoyable day. We had to cross the Bores of Duncans- 
bay, and it certainly was a novel sensation, passing now amongst 
pyramids of water, toppling over in every direction without a 
breath of wind, and again gliding over a rapidly swirling sea, with 
a surface as if covered with oil, the effects upon the sea's bosom of 
many conflicting tides and currents beneath. Once across this 
disturbed and angry tide-race, we glided into smoother water, and 
now removed from the sheltering pillars of water of the Bores of 
Duncansbay, we set sail before a favouring north-westerly breeze, and 
slipped quietly down upon the Pentland Skerries, where we landed 
about eleven o'clock a.m. Such an extraordinary jumble of cross 
tides and conflicting currents, half- whirlpools, smooth glides, and 
rattling rapids, we never saw before.-*- We were right heartily 
welcomed by the lighthouse-keepers, and indeed received quite an 
ovation. The men were all more or less keen about the subject of 
migration, and no wonder, for their island habitation is only second 
to the Isle of May in the importance of its migrational results. 
Skerries is a misnomer for the larger island. It is a lovely place, 
richly grassed by sweet, short pasturage, and feeds some score 
of sheep upon 114 acres, besides the men's cows, for which grazing 
the sum of £52 is deducted by the Commissioners from the men's 
wages as rental : the walking is easy, and feels like passing over 
several plies of a thick-piled carpet. Its elevation is not great 
above sea-level — some 60 or 80. feet, — but there are curious goes 
and " blow-holes " inland on the east side. We had no time to 
go over the whole of the island carefully ; but a week, we believe, 
spent here at the migration seasons would be amply repaid by the 
results of observation : nor could we land upon the smaller skerry, 
as the tide was throwing up a nasty surf, though the wind was 
quite light and summerlike. Many great grey seals were seen on 
the outlying rocks, and a few of the common seal (vitulina) were 
1 Since the above was -written we have been informed that we were watched 
with great anxiety by the famous fishermen of Stroma, that we went 
dangerously near the " Swirlies " ; and that a " vacancy in the See " of Canisbay 
was nearly occasioned. 
