140 THE BIRD WATCHER 
most vigorously. Sypdenly they stopped, both of 
them in a funny set attitude, and each the counterpart 
of the other. A moment afterwards they were cosset- 
ting with the greatest tenderness—every mark of the 
strongest affection. It is to be presumed, therefore, 
that they were bird and wife. Guillemots, in their 
marital relations, are the most affectionate of birds ; 
but this is compatible with the most violent jars—just 
as it is amongst ourselves. “‘ Ce sont petites choses qui 
sont de temps en temps nécessaires dans l'amitié; et cing ou 
six coups de bdton entre gens qui s’aiment, ne font que 
ragaillardir affection.” 
Now a bird flies in with a fish, and one of the two 
chicks left on this part of the cliffs is fed. It was 
just the same as in the make-believe yesterday— 
attitude, etc., and the other parent bustling up— 
except that as the chick was there to take the fish, and 
wanted no pressing, the ceremony was much sooner 
over. It 1s such a cold, sharp wind, now, though the 
and of August, that I have to tent myself in my 
Scotch plaid as though I were a young guillemot, 
besides having a Shetland shawl round my waist, to 
keep away the lumbago—which, for all that, still plays 
light fantasias on this poor “ machine that is to me.” 
So “here I and sorrow sit,” on a razor-blade between 
two precipices, the one sheer, the other a horrible 
slant, and look down at another, on the ledges of 
which are my guillemots and shrieking kittiwakes. 
Heavens, on what slopes and inclines some of the 
former sit and crawl! They can fly, it is true; but 
