38 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



caverns that abound in that storm and weather- 

 beaten coast line of the Atlantic. They were 

 literally in hundreds, all busy in their breeding 

 occupations, either hatching or attending to their 

 young. The specimens in the case were, however, 

 not obtained there, but in the year 1891 at the same 

 time as the Eiders. I was out one day as usual in 

 my sailing boat when I came across some of these 

 birds, in beautiful plumage, as you see them in the 

 case. This is quite worth careful notice, for you 

 will then perceive how satin-like in smoothness are 

 the feathers, also the distinct bronze and purple 

 reflections of colour according as the light strikes 

 them. 



Well, as my boat approached, these Cormorants 

 left the open sea, and retreated into a sort of 

 channel between some high rocks that formed part 

 of a rather ruo;o-ed lookino' sort of an island. I 

 followed after them into this somewhat dangerous 

 passage — for the farther I went the more did I 

 become aware of the suction of a strong current ; 

 however I managed to secure my birds without any 

 mishap. It seemed to me as if I were being impelled 

 towards some mysterious cavern that lay underneath 

 that island, and I was not particularly sorry when I 

 got out of what I felt to be an awkward predicament. 



The nest in May is " formed of seaweed and 

 grass, matted and plastered together and emitting a 

 horribly fetid smell, is often placed in cliffs or 

 amongst fallen rocks and large boulders ; but 

 frequently it is on a ledge near the roof of a cave, 



