ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. Ill 



must now stand off." Upon which I raised the gun, 

 aimed high, held my breath, and pressed the trigger 

 with all the steadiness I could command. To my 

 exquisite joy and the delight of all, we noticed, as the 

 greater number of the birds dispersed, that the cor- 

 morant and three of the shags were severely hit, and 

 remained floating and diving around the skerrie. The 

 difficulty was to get at them, and our only plan was to 

 steer past the spot for some three-quarters of a mile to 

 leeward, and then, returning on the other tack, to cut 

 them off from the rock as they drifted with the tide. 

 In this we were perfectly successful, thanks to 

 Joseph's skilful hand, and the return sail was intensely 

 exciting, as we could just descry the birds, unable to 

 fly, but diving and swimming for very life. On coming 

 up, we found the cormorant uncommonly strong and 

 active (the shags having sufficiently recovered to 

 escape), bearing well away, and struggling with the 

 breakers to the westward. 



Still nearer, an anxious chase at last gave me an 

 opportunity for a second shot, which raised a very 

 fountain from the wave, and stretched the bird effort- 

 less thereon. He proved to be a niagnificient specimen, 

 in fine full plumage, and weighed just 8 Ibs. They are 

 perfect pelicans in their way : the craw or gizzard is 

 exceedingly elastic, and will expand to an immense 

 extent ; and they are unable to swallow and carry a 

 vast weight of fish at one time. The peculiarity in the 



