46 IMMENSE FLOCKS 



This glacier, from its peculiar appearance, has 

 been appropriately termed the Hanging Iceberg. 

 Its position is such, that it seems as if a very 

 small matter would detach it from the mountain, 

 and precipitate it into the sea. And, indeed, 

 large portions of its front do occasionally break 

 away, and fall with headlong impetuosity upon 

 the beach, to the great hazard of any boat that 

 may chance to be near. 



At the head of the bay there is a high pyra- 

 midal mountain of granite, termed Rotge Hill, 

 from the myriads of small birds of that name 

 which frequent its base, and which appear to 

 prefer its environs to every other part of the 

 harbour. They are so numerous, that we have 

 frequently seen an uninterrupted line of them 

 extending full half way over the bay, or to a 

 distance of more than three miles, and so close 

 together that thirty have fallen at one shot. 

 This living column, on an average, might have 

 been about six yards broad and as many deep ; 

 so that, allowing sixteen birds to a cubic yard, 

 there must have been nearly four millions of 

 birds on the wing at one time. 



This number appears at first very large ; but 

 it will not be thought so by persons who have 

 been accustomed to observe the immense flocks 

 of birds which emigrate to the unfrequented 



