THE BASS BOCK. 261 



fine one flying past, and knocked him over. There are 

 none of the small black guillemot on the Bass, although 

 they sometimes hatch on the Island of May. The common 

 kind, called by our boatmen " marrats," are very nume- 

 rous. They are ranged along the cliffs like companies of 

 soldiers ; and half-a-dozen might often be strung at a shot. 

 The kittiwakes are always perched at a good height upon 

 a narrow ledge. I shot at one discharge a couple of these 

 beautiful little gulls, which toppled almost into the boat. 

 A few knots were flitting from rock to rock at the base ; 

 I also slew a couple of them. 



There is a long narrow cavern right through the island, 

 which every year harbours a pair of small green cormo- 

 rants or shags; but the great cormorant only frequents 

 the Bass in winter. We rowed into this cave, and hallooed 

 several times. Just when we had got to the point where 

 a sulky rock barred our further progress, and given up 

 hope, out she flew over our heads, and within ten yards' 

 distance. I stumbled, from the looming swell, in rising 

 to fire, or I could easily have shot her. I did not 

 want a specimen, so it was just as well the poor bird 

 escaped. 



We now landed at Tommy Norie Bay, and ascended 

 the rock. Babbits had been introduced by the present 

 tenant some years ago, and have increased to a great 

 extent. They were popping in and out of Blackadder's 

 cell; a most wretched hole, with a small aperture for a 

 window. We were told, however, that when removed 

 there, from one much more comfortable, his health had 



