The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-06
CLIFF CLIMBING FOR EGGs
Outlt for the work-Danger Of Altar
From the Sea Birds,

The most interesting feature OF Flam.
borough Head. In Yorkshire. Is it's ertrsor.
binary bird life. Every available ledss
or point is occupied by myriads Of ~
fowl, the famous King and Quesn'
stacks and the wave washed 'Matron,
being often nearly covered with them.
For miles the long range Of cliffs o..
tending past speeton to Bempton afford,
a harbor for every variety Of aquatic
bird. The moro inaccessible and A.
cluded tho orags the more thickly are thsv
crowded with the roughly made nests al
coarse. sparse grass.
The birds frequently deposit ths,
eggs on the bare. hard rocks; these an
found lying on every narrow shelf. and
each little hollow or crevice in the cli6,
reveals some OF the beautiful blue and
green or speckled eggs. Though there
are million OF eggs and myriads OF birds,
says Emily Mason in the Treasury, each
parent has been endowed with the wonder.
full instinct to distinguish from the mul.
titudes lying around Its own egg, which
it seeks out each time II flies homeward
from it's food hunting expedition. and With
care and patience brings to life and resrs
its offspring.
OF many different species are the birds
that haunt these mighty, beetling cliffs.
Here are gathered the guillemots, auks,
razorbills and gray and white gulls.
crowded together with putlns. jackdaws
and petrels. All are apparently on good
terms and friendly intercourse with each
other, but the noise they make is almost
deafening,
When the month Of May has dawned.
with it's bright. sunny days. the fowler
goes daily, ready equipped. to gather
eome OF the eggs tha streW the tiny pro.
none who dared venture this hazardous
undertaking these sea birds would III.
crease in such terrific myriads that they
would prove a constant menace and an.
noyanoe to all who live in the surrounding
district.
Those who attempt to descend as
precipitous cliffs are men trained TO their
work by the experience OF years. for u d
no easy task they have to accomplish
and needs a steady hand and head. Most
OF the cliff climbing for eggs on the York.
shire coast takes place either at FIan.
borough or in the adjacent village Of
Bempton, where the birds breed in over.
whelming numbers and the rocky shelves
are practically lined with their art blue
or green shaded eggs.
Four bands Of stalwart climbers work
the long range of cliffs between the two
villages. The tackle consists of two ropes,
the guide line for the hand to grasp and
steer and the thicker rope that Is attached
TO the broad piece Of fiat leather which
firmly fastened around the hips and body.
In addition to these a long gauntlet. also
made Of strong leather, is provided fs
the left arm. being strapped securely
around the wrist and extends asf IS tse
elbow Joint. This wrist guard Is qutts
a necessary adjunct to the outfit, a. the
projections and edges Of the steep crap
are pointed and sharp and when ne
-olimber' is descending his free or iM
arm needs protection or he would he badly
cut and gashed. =,
The egg bags are sometimes SUSPENDED
from the waist in front or occasionsg
from the shoulders. The ropes are iss.
by kind of graphing iron stake. and the
assistant workers lie at intervals above
where they regulate the lines.
Ae the climber lie slowly but surely gam,
ing the bird haunted goal he is SURROUNDED
by guillemots, that Wheel above his heAd
as they utter their shrill eerie cries, and
the gulls and putflns fly fercely around hin,
reigning uproar and babble: When 10
finally plants his foot on the shallow ledee
hundreds OF birds beat their wings in az
may and swoop above and beside him WIN
anger and seem ready to attack the un'
welcome stranger.
When the terrific onslaught appear
to be imminent it is curious. after the hrH
few moments OF alarm to see how lite
real dread they have OF man. for the frap.
tic bird army 90 rudely disturbed settles
down and the guillemots sit down again
in solid groups on the narrow shelving
cliffs. For the eggs collected there "a
great demand. and a brisk market gener;,
ally follows the return Of the intrepid
oIiY clirnhor