148 TWENTIETH CEKTITRY CLASSICS 



and in this manner carry it to the boat together. There 

 the boatman stretches otit one of his long oars, on which 

 they perch, and being delivered of their burden, they fly 

 off to pursue their sport. When they are wearied he lets 

 thena rest for awhile; but they are never fed till their 

 work is over. In this manner they supply a very plenti- 

 ful-table; but still their natural gluttony can not be re- 

 claimed even by education. They have always, while they 

 fish, the same string fastened around their throats to 

 prevent them from devouring their prey, as otherwise they 

 would at once satiate themselves and discontinue the pur- 

 suit the moment they had filled their bellies. '^ 



The birds breed in communities, and where the ground 

 or rocks will admit, their nests are placed close together. 

 On the last of July, 1880, I found the birds breeding in 

 the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on the sides of the cliffs on 

 Bonaventure Isle, and on the top of Perce Rock. The 

 latter cannot be climbed, and nearly all the nests upon the 

 Isle were beyond reach; those examined, however, had 

 young birds from half to nearly full grown, and hundreds 

 of little fellows could be seen either upon their nests or 

 standing near by upon the rock. 



The birds are very filthy, and the stench about their 

 breeding grounds sickening. Their nests are made of 

 sticks, moss from the rocks, and seaweed. Eggs three or 

 four, 2.50x1.56; pale bluish green, coated with a white 

 chalky substance, but more or less stained in their dirty 

 nests; in form, elongate ovate. 



