ANSERES. PE-LECANID.E. 



of causing them to fly. There were hundreds of 

 nests, and the birds not sitting kept flying in front 

 of the rock, passing and repassing so long as any 

 thing. remained to disturb them. On approaching 

 this resort, and also at a similar, but smaller, one 

 on St. Bee's Head, few of the birds quitted the 

 rock ; but at the surprise of our first shots, they fell, 

 as it were, or darted straight to the water, some 

 of them close to the boat, so much so as at first to 

 cause us to think that great havoc had been made ; 

 in which we were soon undeceived, by seeing nume- 

 rous heads appearing at a distance, and the birds 

 immediately making off in safety. They soon, 

 however, learned to sit and look down in content, 

 though at new stations we procured specimens by 

 one firing at the rock, and another taking the birds 

 as they darted to the water. Caves are also re- 

 sorted to as breeding places by this bird, on the 

 ledges of which the nest is placed. On the Bass 

 Rock, and the Isle of May, where only a few re- 

 sort, they select the deep caves : and a boat, sta- 

 tioned at the entrance, but out of sight, may some 

 times procure shots at the disturbed birds flying 

 out, although they more frequently dive into the 

 water of the cave, and swim under until far past 

 the entrance." * 



As an example of the great depth to which 

 marine diving birds will descend in pursuit of 

 prey, Mr. Yarrell mentions that the Shag has 

 been caught in a crab-pot fixed at twenty 

 fathoms, or one hundred and twenty feet below 

 the surface. 



We may here allude to some observations by 



* Nat. Lib. ORNITHOLOGY, iv. 240. 



