ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 61 



My ambition was now rather fired than satisfied, and 



I determined to attempt to take the nest. Joseph was 



loud in prohibitory interjection, and was for rowing 



hastily away, and quenching my aspirations in a 



change of scene. "You must not attempt such a 



thing," said he : " the rocks are as slippery as they 



are deceptive." Ordering him to approach the rock as 



near as circumstances allowed, and perceiving that 



the water was sufficiently deep to prevent any serious 



consequences if I chanced to fall, I leapt from the 



boat, and clung for a moment to a point of rock to 



regain my balance, as the words "Whatever you do, 



take care, sir !" echoed in my ears. I was chiefly 



apprehensive on account of the iron nails in my boots 



being most unadapted for a rocky surface, and from 



which I had received a painful lesson on a previous 



occasion. Taking every and cautious advantages of 



the various sinuosities and inequalities of craig, and 



expecting every moment to find myself taking an 



involuntary "header," I slowly gained or rather 



crawled up to the very ledge on which the nest was 



built. This turned out to be wider, and consequently 



safer, than it had appeared from the water below. 



Along it I proceeded slowly and cautiously on my 



hands and knees, when my progress was stopped by a 



large notch or intervening space ; looking down which, 



I perceived the dark green water below seething in the 



echoing cavern in a manner which caused a disagree- 



