122 THE CRAICr OP AILSA. 



quite fit for use; and indeed^ with the exception of the Solan Goose, which 

 to my taste is rather salt, are by many esteemed preferable to that of the 

 domestic fowl; but as I have unfortunately come upon them nearly hatched, 

 1 arrived at precisely the same opinion expressed by a little girl during 

 breakfast, who remarked, "I do like eggs, mamma, but I do 'nt like eggs 

 with beef in them." 



Mr. Hewitson, the Oologist, who has so ably described, and beautifully 

 illustrated, this branch of Natural History, gives no opinion as to how such 

 a variety might occur. This gentleman, (I mean Mr. H.,) has been most 

 successful, and has probably succeeded in forming the finest and most extensive 

 collection of the Eggs of British Birds of any man in this country; and if I 

 may be permitted to judge by the distances, difficulties, and disappointments, 

 which I have had while endeavouring to form a small cabinet, I cannot 

 estimate his expenditure in the pursuit, under no matter how much, and how- 

 ever far such a desire may go, to establish our fame as cadgers, I cannot 

 allow myself to think that any banker would judge very favourably of our 

 investment, and would naturally feel very uneasy if nothing else could be 

 found at a man's credit than a quantity of egg shells. 



I have heard it frequently stated that birds possess the means of removing 

 their eggs from one place to another; and as I have never seen it described^ 

 I much doubted it, particularly in the case of aquatic species, and more so 

 in those which have the feet webbed, the structure of these members rendering 

 the birds incompetent to perform the operation; and to suppose that they 

 could accomplish it with their bill, rendered it still more improbable; but 

 from actual observation, and that in more instances than one, I have observed 

 the Guillemot alight close to her egg, and by a quick and almost imperceptible 

 elevation of the wing, snatch it up, and run along a ledge for a short distance, 

 where I have seen her deposit it. However scrupulous I was in believing 

 this, I am inclined to think that it is only the swimmers, and probably some 

 of the waders, which resort to this mode of transportation. 



In addition to this extraordinary act on the part of the Guillemot, I would 

 here notice another habit equally interesting, and betraying the same aifection 

 for its oiFspring when in a more matured state. I allude to the fact of the 

 parent bird carrying her young upon her back from the high ledges into the 

 sea; birds of a tender age, and which had never been upon the wing, are 

 frequently seen on the water in the immediate vicinity of breeding ledges, 

 from which it would seem impos.sible for them to descend without assistance; 

 and it has been conjectured by some authors, that the parent bird had conveyed 

 them thither in the way alluded to. Although I believe no observations have 

 been made to confirm this supposition, it would seem to have gained credit 

 from its being the only apparent means of locomotion for these half-fledged 

 young ones being found on the sea; and I could hardly myself have deemed 

 it probable, but during my frequent visits to the Craig I have watched these 

 birds for days in succession, and I am enabled to substantiate the fact from 



