ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 105 



standing, flying from, or returning, and some of the 

 females sitting hard upon their nests. It was 

 some time before I could clearly distinguish these 

 curious birds amid the surrounding " minutiae :" but, 

 after a leisurely inspection, they became more familiar 

 to my eye. The various prominences of one particular 

 stratum were the sole and only places upon the face of 

 this vast elevation that were frequented by the cor- 

 morant. From 140 to 170 yards off, they seemed 

 quite near the summit of the craig ; though from the 

 upmost verge, I am told, they would appear as far 

 below as they now were distant to the straining 

 sight. 



Many a shot re-echoed from my pieces, provoking 

 the most deafening clamour, and my presence evidently 

 created a "sensation." Not a bird, however, could I 

 touch ; nor did the continuous discharges tend in any 

 serious way to disconcert them, as some sat close and 

 motionless upon their hollow nests, and others stood at 

 various points like gaunt revengeful fiends : " their 

 slouching forms, their wet and vapid wings dangling 

 from their sides to catch the breeze ; while their weird, 

 haggard, wildly-staring, emerald green eyes scowled 

 about in all directions." 



They must have commanded a gloriously-extensive 

 view of the wilderness of waters, their wondrous store- 

 house and field of labour spreading into distance like a 

 glistening carpet, as they eyed their mates so lovingly 



