100 NATURAL HISTORY [Birds. 



with any soft materials as other birds ; but it is more ordinary 

 with them to place their egg on the bare shelf of the rock, 

 Avhere, no doubt, the heat of the sun beating on it, and re- 

 flected from the rock, is greatly assisting to hatch it. 



The description of those I had from Hoy-head is as fol- 

 lows : The length eighteen inches, the breadth twenty-six ; 

 the weight twenty-four ounces ; the bill strong, sharp, and 

 cutting, straight to the point, when both mandibles crook a 

 little downwards, but the uppermost is much compressed, 

 and the upper mandible is crossed by four transverse grooves, 

 the lower with three, the broadest of which is a white, and 

 crosses both ; the inside of the mouth a fine pale yellow ; the 

 bill runs pretty far up, and at the angle begins a narrow 

 Avhite line, which runs to each eye ; the gape of the mouth is 

 wide, and where the feathers begin the bill is as it were border- 

 ed ; the head, part of the throat, the whole upper side of the 

 body (except the points of the lesser quill-feathers of the wings, 

 which are white, and form a white stripe) is black ; the tail 

 consists of pointed feathers, which are often much wore by 

 the birds sitting on the rocks ; the whole under side of the 

 body, as also the insides of the wings, is white ; the legs and 

 feet are black, and webbed to the claws. 



Both birds and eggs are eaten by our country people, who 

 venture over the most dreadful precipices for them ; the lat- 

 ter, eaten with salt, pepper, and vinegar, are very good, but 

 the flesh of the birds themselves is rank and fishy tasted. 



