112 ORNITHOLOGICAL KAMBLES. 



structure of the foot of this bird is remarkable ; " the 

 tarsi are stronger and more tendonous than in 

 swimming-birds ; they are straighter set, the toes 

 collapse more, and thus the birds can walk better, and 

 can also stand firm on the slippery points of rocks." 

 The web, also, is continued to the hind toe ; the 

 general position of the same being inwards rather than 

 forwards. Mr. Scarth tells me " that he has tasted 

 cormorant soup, and that its flavour much resembles 

 that of hare." It being now evident that a gale was 

 setting in, we took advantage of the same, and, running 

 briskly up the tideway, returned to Stromness by the 

 hour of five. A hazy gloom o'erspread the darkening 

 sky, and the day which had begun so brightly ended in 

 a drizzling rain ; and the angry sea, ever changeful as 

 the life of man, broke upon the distant headlands with 

 the roar of thunder. 



