184 BRITISH (SEA SIEDS. 
uttering harsh cries, the flying birds silently drifting 
to and fro in a mazy bewildering throng. Many of 
the flying birds are carrying nest materials; many 
of the birds standing on the rocks are fast asleep! 
On every side the Gannets are eyeing you 
suspiciously, some disgorging fish previous to 
taking wing, others barking defiance as you approach 
them, and stubbornly remaining upon their egg until 
absolutely pushed from it. Rock, sea, and air teem 
with birds. It will, however, be remarked that none 
of the birds fly over the land; all keep to the face 
of the cliffs. At the Bass Rock, numbers of young 
Gannets used to be taken for food, the proprietor 
baking quantities, and selling them to the country 
people round about. The taste for baked Solan 
Geese, however, is not so prevalent as formerly, and 
the custom seems likely to die out. At St. Kilda, 
however, the Gannet harvest still continues to be 
gathered, and the young birds form a welcome 
article of food. 
