

INCREDIBLE NUMBERS OF SEA- FOWL. 499 



Island, which lies off the western coast of Norway, in 

 70 30' N. latitude. It is nearly circular in form, and about 

 five or six (English) miles in diameter. Its height is some 

 three thousand feet, and it is almost everywhere encompassed 

 by perpendicular cliffs. It can only be ascended on the 

 northern and western side, and even there not without en- 

 dangerment of life. Fugle-O is sublimely beautiful. The 

 summits of the enormous crags overhanging the sea are 

 capped with snow, whilst their sides in places, more especially 

 at their base, are adorned with grass and flowers. The effect 

 is much enhanced by a splendid water-fall, situated on the 

 western side of the island. The height of this is from two 

 to three hundred feet ; and though the volume of water 

 meets with no obstruction during its descent, yet, before it 

 reaches the bottom it becomes mere spray. 



" When we approached Fugle-O," says M. von Wright, 

 " we met with millions of flying puffins, razor-bills, and other 

 aquatic birds. The incalculable multitude darkened the sky, 

 and can only be compared with the mosquito swarms of 

 Lapland. We were still at some three miles from the 

 island, when they appeared and surrounded the boat, as if 

 they had the intention of preventing us from reaching their 

 home. They might have done so, in truth, had they united 

 their forces, and all attacked us at the same time." 



M. Boie tells us something to the same effect. When 

 near to the Lofodden Islands, they fell in, he says, with such 

 unheard of numbers of razor-bills and other birds, that he 

 was enabled to load and fire his double-barrelled gun no 

 fewer than ten several times before the flight, which was 

 at least a thousand paces in breadth, had passed over them ! 



The puffin and the razor-bill, as said, breed in colonies. 



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