208 ON GENERATION. 



more transparent, and smoother on the surface; when laid, 

 however, the shell is thicker, less transhicid, and the surface is 

 rough it appears as if it were powdered over with a fine white 

 dust which had but just adhered to it. 



Let us, as we are upon this subject, expatiate a little : 

 In the desert islands of the east coast of Scotland, such 

 nights of almost every kind of sea-fowl congregate, that were I 

 to state what I have heard from parties very worthy of credit, 

 I fear I should be held guilty of telling greater stories than 

 they who have committed themselves in regard to the Scottish 

 geese produced, as they say, from the fruits of certain trees that 

 had fallen into the sea. These geese the narrators themselves 

 had never seen so produced ; but I will here relate that which I 

 have myself witnessed. 



There is a small island which the Scots call the Bass Island 

 (and speaking of this one will suffice for all), situated in the 

 open ocean, not far from the shore, of the most abrupt and pre- 

 cipitous character, so that it rather resembles one huge rock or 

 stone than an island, and indeed it is not more than a mile in 

 circumference. The surface of this island in the months of May 

 and June is almost completely covered with nests, eggs, and 

 young birds, so that you can scarce find free footing anywhere; 

 and then such is the density of the flight of the old birds 

 above, that like a cloud they darken the sun and the sky; and 

 such the screaming and din that you can scarce hear the voice 

 of one who addresses you. If you turn your eyes below, and 

 from your lofty stance and precipice regard the sea, there you 

 perceive on all sides around an infinite variety of different kinds 

 of sea-fowl swimming about in pursuit of their prey : the face 

 of the ocean is very like that of a pool in the spring season, 

 when it appears swarming with frogs; or to those sunny hills and 

 clifly mountains looked at from below, that are covered with 

 numerous flocks of sheep and goats. If you sail round the island 

 and look up, you see on every ledge and shelf, and recess, in- 

 numerable flocks of birds of almost every size and order; more 

 numerous than the stars that appear in the unclouded moonless 

 sky; and if you regard the flights that incessantly come and go 

 you may imagine that it is a mighty swarm of bees you have be- 

 fore you. I should scarcely be credited did I name the revenue 

 which was annually derived from the feathers, the eggs, and the 



