•"SO lusrouY *'i 



tlie precipice, its whole surface seems covered with iiifiuite 

 numbers of birds of different kinds, swimming and pursuing their 

 prey. If, in sailing round the island, one surveys its banging 

 cliffs, in every crag, or fissure of the broken rocks, may be seen 

 itininneruble birds, of various sorts and sizes, more than the stars 

 of heaven, when viewed in a serene night. If they are viewed 

 at a distance, either receding, or in their approach to the island, 

 they seem like one vast swarm of bees." 



They are not less frequent upon the rocks of St Kilda. IMar- 

 tin assures us, that the inhabitants of that small island consume 

 annually near twenty-three thousand yoinig birds of this species, 

 besides an amazing quantity of their eggs. On these they prin- 

 cipally subsist throughout the year; and from the number of 

 these visitants, make an estimate of their plenty for the season. 

 They preserve both the eggs and fowls in small pyramidal stone 

 buildings, covering them with turf ashes, to prevent the evapora- 

 tion of their moisture. 



The gannet is a bird of passage. In winter it seeks the more 

 southern coasts of Cornwall, hovering over the shoals of herrings 

 and pilchards that then come down from the northern seas ; its 

 first appearance in the northern islands is in the beginning of 

 spring ; and it continues to breed till the end of summer. But, 

 in general, its motions are determined by the migrations of the 

 immense shoals of herrings that come pouring down at that sea- 

 son through the British Channel, and supply all Europe, as well 

 as this bird, with their spoil. The gannet assiduously attends 

 the shoal in their passage, keeps with them in their whole cir- 

 cuit round our island, arrd shares with our fishermen this ex- 

 haustless banquet. As it is strong of wing, it never comes neai 

 the land ; but is constant to its prey. Wherever the gannet is 

 seen, it is sure to announce to the fishermen the arrival of the 

 finny tribe ; they then prepare their iiets, and take the herrings 

 by millions at a draught; while the gannet, who came to give 

 the first information, comes, though an unbidden guest, and often 

 snatches its prey from the fisherman even in his boat. AVhile 

 the fishing season continues, the gannets are busily employed ; 

 but when the pilchards disappear from our coasts, the gannet 

 takes its leave to keep them company. 



The cormorant has been remarked for the quickness of hia 

 gght ; yet in this the gannet seems to exceed him. It is pos« 



