A Sea-Birds' Haunt. 119 



They were once more plentiful here, and in old 

 days formed a source of revenue to the islanders. In 

 an old inventory, dated 1321, we find mention of 

 ' a certain rock called the Gannett Stone, with two 

 places near it where gannetts settle and breed, worth 

 in ordinary years sixty-six shillings and eightpence, 

 but this year destroyed in great part by the 

 Scots.' 



The Gannet Stone still bears its name, but it is long 

 since it had any tenants. The birds have more than 

 once been entirely driven from the island, and Lundy 

 gannets have founded one colony, at least, upon the 

 coast of Wales. 



A huge pyramid of stone that rises by the shore is 

 crowded with razor-bills and guillemots, and far along 

 the cliff the ledges are lined with countless figures, 

 motionless and silent. 



Many of these ledges seem so narrow and insignifi- 

 cant that the eye could hardly trace them, were it not 

 for their dusky tenants. 



And not only are sea and shore, and cave and cliff, 

 thus crowded with unnumbered birds, but all the 

 while an incessant stream of flying figures is passing 

 through the air. Every moment puffins emerge from 

 their crevices and burrows and fly swiftly downward 

 with strange moth-like flutter to the sea. Every 

 moment hundreds more come up from the water, 

 carrying fish into their holes. 



As you make your slow way down the grassy slope 



