AT THE SOUTH STACK. 457 



aware probably of the toughness of its skin, instead of 

 assaulting his prey with the usual death-pounce from the 

 beak, he seized the unfortunate bird by the head with 

 both his claws, and made towards the land, his prisoner 

 croaking, screaming, and struggling lustily; and, being 

 a heavy bird, so far incommoded or over-balanced its 

 aggressor, that both descended fast towards the sea; 

 when just as they touched the water, the Hawk let go 

 his hold and ascended, the Razor-bill as instanta- 

 neously diving below. 



Amidst the myriads of old ones, we looked in vain for 

 anything like a corresponding number of young, but 

 scarcely a single individual Avas to be seen. It is true 

 that the females produce only one egg; but still that 

 could not account for the small number visible : we could 

 only therefore suspect, from certain friendly croakings 

 uttered by the old ones, when turning their heads to- 

 wards little chinks, the extremities of which were invi- 

 sible, that the infant birds were kept in the back-ground; 

 and well they were so, for otherwise, in the constant 

 disturbances and tumblings incessantly taking place, the 

 whole rising generation must inevitably have broken 

 their necks in the confusion, by falling over before they 

 were able to fly. But a greater surprise was excited by 

 perceiving, in the midst of the bustle, a solitary egg 

 here and there lying on the bare rock, within a few 

 inches of the edge. By what care or instinct was it 

 preserved from falling? It has been said that, if they 

 are removed by a human hand, it is impossible, or at 

 least extremely difficult, to replace them in their former 

 situation; whence it has been inferred, that they are 

 glued by some secret cement to the rock. Some of our 

 ablest naturalists, however, doubt this ; but if it is not 

 so, the mystery is rather increased than lessened for 

 they are in a most hazardous position ; but they are pre- 

 served, though by what means we have yet to learn. 



The Razor-bills were by no means so numerous as the 

 Ouillemots, and generally speaking did not mix with 



