l62 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



able sort of sickening giddiness. Controlling this, 

 however, and balancing myself as well as I was able, I 

 could just reach the nest upon the opposite side, in 

 which I found three eggs. At this point, moreover, so 

 offensive was the stench of putrefying sea-weed and 

 dead fish that it almost caused me to recoil from the 

 undertaking. Depositing the eggs, one in my pocket 

 and the other two in my hand, I slowly but more con- 

 fidently retraced my steps, and having delivered them 

 safely into Joseph's hand, returned in the same manner 

 for the nest. This, which is rudely but ingeniously 

 constructed of the large dead stalks and roots of sea- 

 weed, the centre being lined with dead coarse grass, 

 formed an extensive but very grewsome handful. 

 Having brought this also in safety down to a level 

 with the boat, it was received by Joseph on the 

 rudder, as, having hitherto hardly dared to speak, 

 I now restepped on board, and joyfully partici- 

 pated in the smile of triumph which welcomed my 

 return. 



" Not so bad for a beginning," I observed, as Joseph 

 added that this was the first instance of birds, nest, 

 and eggs, having been secured in one day. I shot one 

 other bird, which fell perfectly dead, as an extra 

 specimen ; and then, having reloaded, we rowed gently 

 on and round the next turn of the cliff. Here the 

 scene again slightly altered, and only tended by its 

 varying novelty to enhance it as a spectacle of 



