GREEN-CRESTED CORMORANT. 24J 



the precipitous coast adjacent to the Calf, of such 

 elevation, that the centre was out of range, either 

 from the top or from the sea; there they nestled 

 in deep horizontal fissures, conscious apparently of 

 their security, and would poke out their long necks, 

 to ascertain the reason of the noise below, or when 

 a ball struck the rock near them, with the hope of 

 causing them to fly. There were hundreds of nests, 

 and the birds not sitting kept flying in front of the 

 rock, passing and repassing so long as anything re- 

 mained to disturb them. One, of a pale grey 

 colour, mingled among the other dark birds, and 

 was an object of request, but our perseverance was 

 unavailing for not breeding, it took to the open 

 sea when much annoyed. On approaching this 

 resort, and also at a similar, but smaller one, on St. 

 Bee's Head, few of the birds quitted the rock ; but, 

 at the surprise of our first shots, they fell, as it were, 

 or darted straight to the water, some of them close to 

 the boat, so much so as at first to cause us to think 

 that great havoc had been made, in which we were 

 soon undeceived, by seeing numerous heads appear- 

 ing at a distance, and the birds immediately making 

 off in safety ; they soon, however, learned to sit 

 and look down in content., though at new sta- 

 tions we procured specimens by one firing at the 

 rock, and another taking the birds as they darted 

 to the water. Caves are also resorted to as breeding 

 places by this bird, on the ledges of which the nest 

 is placed. On the Bass Rock and the Isle of May, 

 where only a few resort, they select the deep caves ; 



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