54 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



On these occasions my skipper Dunn takes the 

 helm ; and in this squally and dangerous channel I 

 gladly leave to his experienced hand the entire disposi- 

 tion and working of the boat. Seated well forward, I 

 rest at my ease; my gun loaded with cartridge and 

 shot, as the case may be, and ready to take instant 

 advantage of any opportunity that the sea or the rocks 

 may offer. Surely the language of the poet Gray 

 must have been intended as a vaticination of this 

 occasion : 



" Fair laughs the morn, and soft the zephyr blows, 



While proudly riding o'er the azure realm, 

 In gallant trim the gilded vessel goes ; 

 Youth at the prow, and Pleasure at the helm." 



It is but seldom that the wind sets in this quarter, 

 which is the only one available for approaching these 

 rocks sufficiently close to effect any desirable execution. 

 Scanning the surface of the open water, and some- 

 what to leeward of our course, a small black speck is 

 occasionally visible. 



With a word to Joseph, the helm slightly turns, and 

 we bear down upon it at a steady pace. T now raise 

 my gun and kill a black guillemot (Uria grylle), but it 

 was too much shot in the head to be of any use to me. 

 It is a pretty sight to see these birds floating on the 

 moving mass of water, rising and falling, diving and 

 reappearing again with great expertness. They are 



