226 THE GANNET 



he has had the character given him of being a mendacious 

 historian, had truth and justice on his side when he termed 

 the Bass " unwinnabill by ingine of man." To the naturaUst 

 and lover of scenery does it now principally appeal, and to 

 such an one its chief interest centres in the birds, especiall}' 

 will any lover of birds be captivated by the spectacle of 

 that " incredible noumer of Soland Geis," to which Hector 

 Boece refers, not without some admiration. An account of 

 their habits is reserved to a later chapter, but I should like 

 to make some remarks presently on their numbers and 

 natural pugnacity, which latter must strike anyone who 

 goes to the Bass to watch the birds. 



A view of the appearance of the Bass from the shore was 

 given in the last chapter, but another is required of the west 

 side, for it is there that a vast quantity of the Gannets 

 breed, though they also cluster thickly from the north 

 point to East Cove. Indeed, to do the Bass Rock justice, 

 a series of photographs is wanted, such as I understand 

 has been taken by Mr. William Evans. The dotted portion 

 of the annexed map is intended to show approximately the 

 area occupied by the Gannets, which breed round about 

 three-fourths of the Rock. 



Although there are not nearly so many Gannets here as 

 at St. Kilda, nor even quite so many as at Ailsa Craig, there 

 is still a vast number, and the eye soon wearies when looking 



