1 84 BRITISH SEA BIRDS. 



uttering harsh cries, the flying birds silently drifting 

 to and fro in a mazy bewildering throng. Many of 

 the flying birds are carrying nest materials ; many 

 of the birds standing on the rocks are fast asleep ! 

 On every side the Gannets are eyeing you 

 suspiciously, some disgorging fish previous to 

 taking wing, others barking defiance as you approach 

 them, and stubbornly remaining upon their egg until 

 absolutely pushed from it. Rock, sea, and air teem 

 with birds. It will, however, be remarked that none 

 of the birds fly over the land ; all keep to the face 

 of the cliffs. At the Bass Rock, numbers of young 

 Gannets used to be taken for food, the proprietor 

 baking quantities, and selling them to the country 

 people round about. The taste for baked Solan 

 Geese, however, is not so prevalent as formerly, and 

 the custom seems likely to die out. At St. Kilda, 

 however, the Gannet harvest still continues to be 

 gathered, and the young birds form a welcome 

 article of food. 



