270 THE GULL AND PETREL. 



guillemot ; the loud note of the ank ; the scream of 

 the heron ; and the hoarse, deep, periodical croaking 

 of the cormorant, all unite to furnish out the grandeur 

 of the scene, and turn the mind to Him who is the 

 essence of sublimity. 



These birds, like all others of the rapacious kind, 

 lay but few eggs, in consequence of which their num- 

 bers are observed daily to diminish; a circumstance 

 which, at first view, may appear a benefit to mankind; 

 but, when we consider how many of the natives of our 

 islands are sustained by their flesh, either fresh or 

 salted, we shall find no satisfaction in thinking that these 

 poor creatures may lose in time their chief though 

 hardly-earned support. 



The gull in general, as was observed, builds upon 

 the edges of the rocks, and lays from one to three 

 eggs : the nests are formed with long grass and sea- 

 weeds, and the young ones are infinitely preferable for 

 food; yet most of these have a fishy taste, and their 

 flesh is strong and stringy. Almost all delicacy is a 

 relative thing; the luxuries of the, poor are coarse to 

 us, yet still luxuries to those who have not tasted better; 

 and the difficulty with which this homely banquet is 

 procured, may probably be the means of giving addi- 

 tional relish to the taste. 



There are two methods of taking these birds, which 

 are practised by men trained to this dangerous work ; 

 the one is, to let themselves down these frightful pre- 

 cipices by a rope with a stick fastened to the end, on 

 which they sit across ; and the other is, to ascend by 

 the help of a long pole, with a hook at the end ; yet 

 each of these plans are attended with danger, and often 

 proves fatal to those who follow that pursuit. 



