404 GANNET. 



reaching the top, had it not been for the kindness of the keepers of the light that had been 

 placed on the top of the island some three years previous. They having noticed our arriv- 

 al, had lowered a bucket which was suspended by a crane, arid we stepping into it, slow- 

 ly ascended, swinging back and forth as we went" upward, until we reached a narrow shelf, 

 some thirty feet from the top, on which we stepped, climbed a ladder, and found ourselves on 

 top of Bird Rock, which although only about an acre in area, furnished ground enough to 

 fully occupy my attention for some time, as shortly after our arrival the sea rose, and our 

 not very courageous captain, fearing for the safety of his ship, weighed anchor, sailed away, 

 and left us on this lonely islet, where we were obliged to remain ten days. 



Among the most noticeable birds on the rock, were the Gannets, and they occupied a 

 considerable space on the north-west side of the upper portion. Here the soil was com- 

 pletely denuded of vegetation and4he bulky nests which were composed of sea-weed, were 

 placed in long rows, about a foot apart, reminding one strongly of hills of corn. This reg- 

 ularity was due to the fact, that the Gannets are quarrelsome birds and will not permit 

 another to approach within striking distance when they are sitting. Early in the morning, 

 when all the birds were on the nests, they presented a singular appearance, for there was 

 fully a quarter of an acre of Gannets. They were remarkably unsuspicious, allowing one 

 to approach within a few feet of them, but when fairly startled, they would all scramble 

 helter-skelter, to the edge of the cliff, when they would launch out into the air, with loud 

 cries. The hideous din made by this living cataract as it poured down from above, startled 

 those which nested on the shelves. of the cliffs beneath, causing them to take wing, thus 

 increasing their numbers to such an extent, that when we reached the edge of the preci- 

 pice, there were, at least, ten thousand Gannets before us, flying high over the surging 

 waves. A sight like this is rarely seen and strongly reminded one of a snow-storm, when 

 the countless flakes whirl in wild confusion. At first, the birds hovered directly about the 

 island but quickly assumed a systematic method of flight, which I afterward observed was 

 constantly practiced by them. They would approach the rock, coming so near that we 

 could almost feel the wind caused by their huge wings, and curving outward, would de- 

 scribe an immense circle of half a mile or more in diameter; as each followed its neighbor in 

 this singular course, the whole soon formed a huge wheel which whirled swiftly around for 

 some time, when the birds would disperse. 



We found that the Gannets of Bird Rock deposited one, or rarely two, eggs, pure 

 white at first, but these soon became soiled, as the birds are far from being neat. When 

 disturbed, every bird would disgorge some fish before flying away, and thus the ground 

 was strewed with the half digested contents of their stomachs, which, when the hot sun 

 shown on it, soon gave out an intolerable stench. The Gannets were always repairing 

 their nests and frequently one would come flying in with a mass of dripping sea- weed which 

 it had taken from the water, and pitching heavily upon the shelf, would arrange it on its 

 nest. But no sooner had the bird placed it in a satisfactory manner, when perhaps it would 

 be seized by some neighbor (hat had been watching the opperation and now endeavored to 

 appropriate the material for its own use. The theft although boldly perpetrated, was not 

 always successfully accomplished, for the victim of this outrage would stoutly contest thu 

 prize by striking out fiercely with its powerful bill, often causing the plunderer to reliu- 

 guish its booty. A violent struggle would then ensue, during which many blows would 



