ORNITHOLOGICAL KAMBLES. 65 



by millions of birds, which we saw, though I had not 

 the time to count them, sitting in rows like charity 

 children, with black heads and white tippets, ranged 

 along every crevice in the cliffs. Captain Phillips 

 caused several guns to be fired, when an uproarious 

 noise ensued, which can be compared to nothing but 

 the hurraing of a whole army. It seemed like a 

 long loud roar, accompanied by the echoing and re- 

 echoing of guns a whole platoon of cannon, till at 

 length I fancied that the commotion could scarcely 

 have boen more deafening from the mob and artillery 

 of London on the day of her Majesty's coronation. 

 Above, below, and around, the sea, air, and rocks 

 seemed all one living mass of birds, screaming at the 

 full pitch of their voices, rushing through the air, 

 careering to the very clouds, flickering in circles over 

 head, zigzagging all around us, and then dropping like 

 a shower into the ocean. Nothing in the way of 

 animal life ever amazed me so much. I wonder if 

 any one on earth can imagine it? no, certainly 

 not ! seeing is believing, and nothing else will help 

 you." 



When the quantity of fish that each of these birds 

 can consume at a single meal is taken into considera- 

 tion, and the number of young ones that they will have 

 to provide for in a few weeks, it remains a matter of 

 marvel that sufficient food should be concentrated in 

 these parts to supply the wants of such a multitude ; 



F 



