THE BASS ROCK 257 



east end, just before sunrise, and approached as silent as 

 possible. At a little distance the precipice appeared as 

 if composed of chalk ; but on a nearer approach we 

 discovered that this effect was produced by the excrement, 

 as well as by the white plumage of the innumerable water- 

 fowl that covered the cliffs. The whole of the various 

 families were just awake, and preparing, by shaking their 

 feathers and pluming their wings, for the busy occupation 

 of the coming day. . . . The Gannets were sitting close 

 to each other on their eggs. We crept cautiously down 

 among them, and so attentive were they to their occupation 

 of sitting that it was with difficulty they could be forced 

 from their eggs, though at other times they are extremely 

 shy. They lay but one, which is perfectly white, and in 

 shape and size nearly resembles that of a crocodile ; it is 

 placed on the bare rock, surrounded by a circle of wet 

 seaweed, which is constantly replenished by the male as it 

 becomes dry.* I had been told, but doubted the fact, 

 that during the time of incubation the female holds the 

 egg in her foot ; this I found to be the case. In a visit 

 I made in the August following [1807], the young were many 

 of them gone."t 



* See p. 98. 



t " A Companion to the London MuscMim and Panthorion," by William 

 Bullock, 181.3. 



