370 HISTORY OF 



regularity with which they built together. In that 

 bleak and desolate spot, where the birds had long 

 continued undisturbed possessors, and no way 

 dreaded the encroachment of men, they seemed 

 to make their abode as comfortable as they ex- 

 pected it to be lasting. They were seen to build 

 with an amazing degree of uniformity, their nests 

 covering fields by thousands, and resembling a 

 regular plantation. In the middle, on high, the 

 albatross raised its nest, on heath, sticks, and long 

 grass, about two feet above the surface ; round 

 this the penguins made their lower settlements, 

 rather in holes in the ground, and most usually 

 eight penguins to one albatross. Nothing is a 

 stronger proof of M. Buffon's fine observation, 

 that the presence of man not only destroys the 

 society of meaner animals, but their instincts also. 

 These nests are now, I am told, totally destroyed ; 

 the society is broke up; and the albatross and 

 penguin have gone to breed upon more desert 

 shores, in greater security. 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE CORMORANT. 



THE Cormorant is about the size of a large Mus- 

 covy duck, and may be distinguished from all 

 other birds of this kind, by its four toes being 

 united by membranes together, and by the mid- 



