ROCKBIRDS. 227 



are here placed collectively under the above name ; and 

 suffice it to say, that those most commonly shot, and 

 the eggs of which are most in requisition, are the razor- 

 bill and puffin of the Auk kind, and the common wil- 

 lock of the Guillemot kind. The puffins are most 

 plentiful at the back of the Isle of Wight, and St. 

 Alban's ; the others on the cliffs near Eastbourne and 

 Dover : but, for a farther variety, we must go more 

 towards the North of Great Britain. 



Although birds of this description can only be used 

 for the sake of the feat hers, or to barrel for dog's meat, 

 yet many of the best sportsmen are tempted to amuse 

 themselves with the diversion of " Rockbird shooting," 

 from the number of shots that may be got in a day, 

 and the uninterrupted opportunity of practice, and trials 

 of skill. For this purpose, large parties of pleasure are 

 made about the months of June and July, when, instead 

 of taking only a full powderhorn and shotbelt, it fre- 

 quently becomes necessary to be prepared with a clean- 

 ing rod, and an extra supply of ammunition. 



The time selected for killing these birds should be 

 either before they hatch, or after they have brought 

 down their young to the water, where they are able to 

 shift for themselves : otherwise those, who destroy the 

 old birds, have to reproach themselves with the cruelty 

 of leaving the young ones to starve upon the rocks. 



On approaching the stupendous cliff, in which these 

 birds each deposit their one large egg, you see them, 

 for miles and miles, blackening the air like swarms of 

 bees : and what with the screaming of the gulls, the 

 hollow croaking of the cormorants, and the various 

 noises of the penguin tribe, you hear the caverned 

 rocks in constant echo with discordant sounds. 



Q2 



