THE SNAKING OF PUFFINS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2206, 11 June 1896, Page 49

THE SNAKING OF PUFFINS.

" Placed far amidst the melancholy main," some 45 miles farther out than tbe Outer Hebrides, there is a remarkable group of islands, the largest of '^ which is called St. Kilda. This island is about three miles in leDgth and two in breadth, and is composed of lofty hills which confront the ocean as stupendous precipices. The highest hill is named Connagher, and the summit is about 13G" >!t. above tbe level of the sea. Besides St. Kilda proper, there are two other large islands — namely, Boreray and Soy, .the coasts of which are equally sublime. There is another island called the Dun, probably from a rude fortification which still remains there. It is separated from St. KUda by a narrow ohannel through which the foaming waves rash furiously in winter. " A channel of much greater width divides Soy from St. Kilda, but 16 is not so wide as to prevent the (boats of

people in the one island from being beard in the other. la the water between the two islands there are several steeple-looking stacks of a great height and very steep, which the best cragsmen sometimes scale to get birds and eggs and to boast of the achievement. Boreray is four miles distant from St. Kilda, and anyone sailing at the foot of the precipices with which it is begirt would say it was inaccessible. Yet I was at the top of it along with the natives on two occasions. Parties ol Unmarried women go to Boreray every summer, and are left upon it for three weeks or so, to catch puffins {alias sea-parroti alias coulternebs), the feathers of which they pluck and truck— or, at all events, they did so when I resided in St. Kilda ; probably they now tell the feathers. On the flattish top of Boreray, where a flock of sheep find pasture, there are several ancient hou3es that look like green hillocks outside. In them the girl* reside during the fowling season, and the men when thoy visit the island to pluck tha wool from the sheep, for shears are unknown. These houses are about 4ft wide and 20ft loDg. The walls are oonaposed of three or four tiers of huge stones, and are roofed with lintels, the whole structure being covered with earth and turf. The door is so low that one is obliged to enter and issue on all-fours. The girls bring a kettle of live peats with them, and never allow their fire to go out. A Eemioiroular screen of stones prevents the wind from blowing in at the door. The puffins are caught by means of hair ropes held down by stones and fringed with noozes into which they push their restless feet. A dozen birds may be seen at one time tugging different ways in their attempts to escape, Every girl has as an assistant a dog which has been taught to alarm bird 3by scraping at their burrow and seizing them when they crawl out. These bird-catchers carry blanket! with them and sleep on the ashe» of theix peat fire. They also take oatmeal and cheese with them, and roast as many birds as they want for food — an insignificant fraotion when compared with the immense number they catcb. In 1876-77 they could all read Gaelic witb ease, and everyone had a Testament in her luggage. A watch 1b kept upon these damsels from the crags of St. Kilda, and they cut a square upon the turf as a sign that there is sickness amongst them, and that a boat should be sent to Boreray without delay. ■ . Boreray is, I think, derived from the Norse, and signifies inhabited island. Indeed, all tbe principal place-names in St.' Kilda are not Gaelic but old Norwegian. Soy ought to be speltSaudey, which means sheep-inland. In that island there is a flock of brown cheep which have, I have no doubt, existed from the days of the Vikings. They are as wild and swift as deer. St. Kilda is probably a corruption of the Norse Kilda, the well. There are at least five springs of excellent water in the island, which the Scandinavian rovers weary and thirsty from toiling at the oars of their long ships would deem to be the most striking feature of the place. There were 75 inhabitants iv St, Kilda in 1877, and the population continues. almost stationary. Fallacious conclusions may, be drawn from . the premises. From time immemorial the infants of St. Kilda had been subject to a disease which cut of! the great majority a few days after birth. Many couples had had large families, but all their children perished from lockjaw; consequently the afflicted community contained a disproportionate number of old people, who in the ordinary course of nature would drop off at a mtae rapid rate than a new generation could be born. St. Kilda is the only island of the cluster that is inhabited, and the houses are all in one village, closa to which is tho only spot where a boat can ba hauled uc The St. Kildans are all very religious, indeed I may cay fanatical, and the Sabbath is a day of fearful gloom.— Magazine of Art.