66 



the ascent can be made, is the rocky point between the two beaches ; 

 this has probably, from the yielding nature of the rock, altered 

 materially since Audubon's visit ; at present, it would be impossible 

 to haul a boat up from want of space. The landing is very difficult 

 at all times, as it is necessary to jump from a boat, thrown about by 

 the surf, on to the inclined surface of the ledge, rendered slippery by 

 the fuci which cover it, and bounded towards the rock by a nearly 

 vertical face. The landing once effected, the first part of the ascent 

 is comparatively easy, being over large fragments and broad ledges, 

 but the upper part is both difficult and dangerous, as in some places 

 the face of the rock is vertical for eight or ten feet and the projecting 

 ledges very narrow, and the rock itself so soft that it cannot be 

 trusted to, and in addition rendered slippery by the constant trickling 

 from above and the excrements of the birds that cover it in every 

 dii-ection. 



Since Audubon's time the fishery, which was carried on extensively 

 in the neighborhood of Bryon Island, has failed, or at least is less 

 productive than on the North shore, and I am inclined to think that 

 at present the birds are but little disturbed, and that consequently 

 their number, particularly of the Guillemots, has much increased. 

 There was no appearance of any recent visit on the top of the rock, 

 and though after making the ascent it was obvious that others had 

 preceded us, still the traces were so faint that it was several hours 

 before we succeeded in finding the landing-place. The birds breed- 

 ing there, at the time of our visit, were Gannets, Puffins, three species 

 of Guillemots, Razor-billed Auks, and Kittiwakes. These birds are 

 all mentioned by Audubon, with the exception of Briinnich's Guille- 

 mot, and the Bridled Guillemot confounded by him with the common 

 species. No other breeding-place on our shore is so remarkable at 

 once for the number and variety of the species occupying it. 



Of the seven species mentioned, I am not aware that three, 

 namely, the Kittiwake and the Bridled and Briinnich's Guillemot, are 

 known to breed at any other place south of the Straits of Belle Isle ; 

 of the remaining four, two, the Foolish Guillemot and Razor-billed 

 Auk, are found at many other places and in large numbers ; the Puffin 

 in much greater abundance on the North shore, particularly at the 

 Perroquet Islands, near Mingan and Bras D'Or ; the Gannet at only 

 two other points in the Gulf, at Perce Rock near Gaspe, which is per- 

 haps even more remarkable than Gannet Rock, but is at present inac- 

 cessible ; and at Gannet Rock near Mngan, which will soon be 

 deserted by those birds in consequence of the depredations of the 

 fishermen. 



The following list of birds is not intended to comprise aU those 

 observed by me, — all the land birds are omitted, as well as those 

 water birds to our present knowledge of which I could add nothing. 



