102 THE HEKNEEY. , 



selves to the water, with not more than five or six of 

 them as the guerdon of our pains. 



Our next point was the hernery, which we found at 

 a short distance further along the shore ; and I could 

 not but admire the skill with which these birds had 

 chosen the locale of their colony. The position was 

 of this character, a diminutive N bay or cove, above 

 which the butting cliff, scooped out into a semicircular 

 form, rose perpendicularly from the beach to a height 

 of between three and four hundred feet, it's face clad 

 with a huge forest of ivy, hanging in massy folds of 

 luxuriant drapery, and springing from two or three 

 stems, thick as the boll of an ordinary oak. The spot 

 was indeed a miniature model of that quiet little cove 

 within which -ZEneas and his " defessi .ZEneadse " once 

 sought shelter and repose from the rude tossings of the 

 deep, with more than one brave comrade missing. 



* ' Hinc atque hinc vastae rupes, geminique minantur 

 In ccelum scopuli." 



While thus fortified on either hand by nature, and 

 rendered completely inaccessible by land, the roughness 

 of the sea, which generally lashed itself into foam on 

 the opposing rocks, formed so strong a barrier on the 

 only side from which approach was possible, that it was 

 only in the calmest weather that a boat ventured to 

 make the attempt. Here, then, in a retirement seldom 

 disturbed, the heron could peaceably hatch and rear 

 her young, looking on with sovereign indifference as 

 the waves chafed harmlessly below, and laughing as they 

 strove in vain rivalry to reach her elevated throne. 

 And here, should she ever have to forage at a distance, 

 though the beach at hand could generally supply her 

 with food, she could leave her tender brood with a 



