THE MANX SHEARWATER 289 



of the cliffs on the south-west coast of this interesting island. 

 The sea was roaring and seething like a caldron below this 

 mighty wall of rocks, and the spray was dashing in showers 

 up the cliffs and over the broken boulders at their base 

 as the big waves broke over them. A few Fulmars were to 

 be seen here and there amongst the grassy parts of the cliffs, 

 whilst in the rocks Guillemots, Eazorbills, and Puffins sat in 

 considerable numbers, and now and then Kittiwakes and Great 

 Black -backed Gulls flew along the face of the precipice. 

 Barefoot we climbed down the rocks to within a few hundred 

 feet of the sea, and finally arrived at the place where the 

 Shearwaters rear their young. The birds had made their 

 burrows in the steep grassy parts of the cliff, where a foot- 

 hold could only be obtained with difficulty, and where the 

 least false step would hurl the unfortunate climber into 

 eternity. The Manx Shearwater burrows in the ground just 

 like a Puffin, and the holes in some cases extend for a very 

 long distance, often far under rocks where it is impossible to 

 get at the nest. At the mouth of all the holes which were 

 tenanted there was a considerable heap of birds' droppings. 

 Both birds assist in scratching out the burrow, and many 

 holes are begun and deserted for no apparent reason. Some 

 burrows were four or five feet in length, others were nearly 

 twice that distance. At the end of the hole the Shearwaters 

 make a scanty nest of dry grass, on which the female lays 

 her single white egg. Some holes contained an egg and no 

 bird, others contained the pair of birds but no egg. When 

 taken in the hand the birds made little effort to escape, and 

 when finally released they flew away in a very rapid but 

 erratic manner, as if dazed by the brilliant sunshine. No 

 birds were to be seen, although the holes in plenty all around 

 betokened an abundance of nests. The Shearwater's activity 

 begins with evening, and were you to visit their colony then 

 the scene would be stirring and animated enough. This bird 



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