136 
Notice regarding the Ides of St Hilda. 
judging from their appearance from the mountains of Harris, 
from which they are seen rising in the west, like two isolated 
mountains from the bosom of the Atlantic. The shores are 
so precipitous, that, in Hirt, there are only two landing-places 
where a boat can be drawn up, the most convenient of which is 
situated in a bay on the south-east side of the island. 
Snow very seldom lies to any depth, or for any great length 
of time, insomuch that, often when the mountains of Harris 
and Skye are covered, the St Kilda Isles are merely cap- 
ped. Of rain, of course, they have an abundant supply, in 
common with the other islands. The surface is in general rocky 
and irregular : the soil is tolerable in some places, and there is 
abundance of peat, though it is not very deep. The pasturage 
is good, and sufficiently well adapted for cattle. 
This remote and solitary group is the resort of numberless 
birds, which retire thither to breed. The greater part of these 
is migratory, and especially those which are objects of pursuit 
to the inhabitants ; the Solan Goose, Sula alba ; the F ulmar, 
Procellaria glacialis ; the Puffin, Mormon fratercula ; the 
Guillemot, Uria Troile ; the Auk, Alca tor da , are the principal 
species. Next to [these may be mentioned the Kittiwake, 
Laras tridactylus , which, as well as the above, is migratory. Of 
the permanent birds are various species of the genus Laras , 
Carbo , Anas , and many of the birds common in the Outer He- 
brides. Of the rare birds which frequent these islands, one is 
particularly worthy of notice, the Great Auk, Aha impennis, a 
live specimen of which was, three years ago, brought to Harris 
by Mr Maclellan of Scalpay. * 
The inhabitants, which are to the number of about thirty fa- 
milies, are originally from the islands of Skye, Uist, and Har- 
ris, and consequently of the mixed race of Celtic and Norwe- 
gian origin, with which those islands are peopled. They are, 
in general, of ordinary stature, of fair complexion, and well- 
conditioned, rather sluggish in their motions, and of indolent 
habits. The language spoken is the Gaelic ; but they have a 
* This individual afterwards made its escape. As the Great Auk is now be. 
come a very scarce bird, it may be mentioned, that a specimen came to the hands 
of Mr Adam, Factor of the Lewis, last year, but being unfortunately in bad con- 
dition, the skin was ultimately turned out of doors : it was caught in a fishing net. 
