BIRD ROCK 



187 



came to take us from the Rock, and early in the 

 morning we heard his fog horn from the gray bank 

 below telling where the Sea Gem, as yet unseen, was 

 anchored. 



In the hope of better weather I deferred photo- 

 graphing the Gaunets, the only accessible colony of 

 which was on the north side of the Rock ; but forced 

 now to make the best of the existing conditions, 

 I took the twin-lens, fastened one end of a rope 

 about my waist, and gave the other end to Captain 

 Bourque, in order that, unhampered by thought of 

 fall, I might creep along the slippery ledges where 

 the birds nested." 



The fog had lifted, but the d \y was gloomy, and 

 only the white plumage of the birds and a wide-open 

 lens yielded successful photographs. 



It was my first visit to the big white birds, who, 

 in spite of persecution, have as yet acquired but little 

 fear of man, and as with hoarse croaks and a dash- 

 ing of wings they pitched onto the narrow ledges 

 near me, their size and boldness, in connection with 

 my somewhat insecure footing, aroused in me a feel- 

 ing which I had not experienced when surrounded 

 by the smaller Murres, Auks, and Puffins. The 

 main nesting ledge was out of reach below, but 

 small groups of birds were nearer, and these I pho- 

 tographed at a distance of about ten feet. 100 



These Gannets are magnificent birds, and when 

 on the wing exhibit a combination of power and 

 grace excelled by no other bird I have seen. They 

 are most impressive when diving, as with half-closed 

 wings, like great spearheads, they descend from a 

 height of about forty feet with a force and speed 



