CHAPTER XXIX. 



BIRD-CATCHING IN NORWAY. 



THE number of sea-fowl, on the coast of Norway, 

 is something incredible. " Their feathers and down, which 

 are gathered and sent to foreign parts," says Pontoppidan, 

 " together with their flesh and eggs, afford the inhabitants 

 a very good maintenance; besides the extraordinary good 

 grass that grows after the manure left by the dung of these 

 birds on the islands." 



" The water-fowl egg-shell," the Bishop farther observes, 

 and the remark is curious, " is somewhat thicker than the 

 others, showing the providence of our great and benevolent 

 Creator, to prevent the eggs perishing with the cold, owing to 

 their being near the water, and the dam's long absence 

 when in search of food ; though" most sort of water-fowl 

 live for that reason in a kind of married state, and orderly 

 take their turns, the cock and hen alternately sitting on the 

 eggs ; and when 'tis the hen's turn, the cock often stands 

 at some distance as a watch or sentinel, to guard her. 



