268 WITH NATURE AND A CAMERA. 



than a vigorous peck at his legs. In one case a 

 bird in the foreground spoilt a picturesque group 

 which my brother desired to take, and, as she 

 would not leave her young one, I was obliged to 

 push her off the cliff with my cap folded tightly 

 round my right hand. 



I was greatly astonished at the length of time 

 such large birds could remain poised over one 

 particular spot, with their wings outstretched and 

 motionless. Of course, it was managed by taking 

 advantage of the pressure of a strong and steady 

 breeze striking the face of the cliff and then being 

 deflected upwards, but the grace and apparent ease 

 of it were truly marvellous. 



My brother was anxious to obtain a picture 

 showing a good crowd of Gannets in it ; and when 

 he descended for that purpose to the very edge of 

 the cliff, and began to stalk the birds (with his 

 camera in front of him) from ledge to ledge off 

 any of which the slightest slip meant a headlong 

 plunge of a hundred and fifty feet into the sea 

 below I saw one of the men who had accom- 

 panied us in the boat turn away, and heard him 

 mutter to himself, " Venturesome divel ! he'll never 

 go off the Bass alive." 



While we were at work a flock consisting of 

 several hundreds left the rock, and, flying out into 

 the Firth of Forth, went through a mazy sort of 

 aerial waltz, which lasted half an hour. 



The Bass Rock is a much easier and safer 

 place to visit than Ailsa Craig, but, except 

 in the case of Gannets, it is not so rich in sea- 

 bird life. 



Whilst walking round the loose sides of the 

 latter, Puffins scuttle out of every conceivable and 

 inconceivable hole and cranny, and are easily 



