124 



THE LIFE OF A BIRD. 



motion of the pinions, till they plunged into the 

 ocean. The nests of the kittiwakes were close to 

 each other on every part 

 of the rock which was 

 capable of holding them; 

 and they were so nu- 

 merous, as totally to defy 

 any attempt to count 

 them. On the bare and 

 level ledge of the rocks, 

 often not more than six 

 inches wide, lay the eggs 

 of the guillemots : some 

 were placed parallel with 

 the range of the shelf, 

 others nearly so, and 

 others with their blunt 

 and sharp ends indiscri- 

 minately pointing to the 

 sea. By no glutinous 

 matter, nor any foreign 

 body whatever, were they 

 affixed to the rock; here 

 common o Ez S >. ^ Q y j^ an( ] una ttached, 



as in the palm of your outstretched hand. You 





