

f '; 



358 



AUDUBON 



eastern extremity of these islands, we go off there to- 

 morrow in boats. Saw Bank Swallows and House Swal- 

 lows. The woods altogether small evergreens, extremely 

 scrubby, almost impenetrable, and swampy beneath. At 

 seven this evening the thermometer is at 52°. This morn- 

 ing it was 44°. After our return to the " Ripley," our 

 captain, John, Tom Lincoln, and Coolidge went off to 

 the cliffs opposite our anchorage, in search of Black Guille- 

 mots' eggs. This was found to be quite an undertaking; 

 these birds, instead of having to jump or hop from one 

 place to another on the rocks, to find a spot suitable 

 to deposit their spotted egg, as has been stated, are on 

 the contrary excellenc walkers, at least upon the rocks, and 

 they can fly from the water to the very entrance of the 

 holes in the fissures, where the egg is laid. Sometimes 

 this egg is deposited not more than eight or ten feet above 

 high-water mark, at other times the fissure in the rock 

 which has been chosen stands at an elevation of a hun- 

 dred feet or more. The egg is laid on the bare rock with- 

 out any preparation, but when the formation is sandy, a 

 certain scoop is indicated on the surface. In one instance, 

 I found two feathers with the egg ; this egg is about the 

 size of a hen's, and looks extravagantly large, splashed 

 with black or deep umber, apparently at random, the 

 markings larger and more frequent towards the great end 

 At the barking of a dog from any place where these birds 

 breed, they immediately fly towards the animal, and will 

 pass within a few feet of the observer, as if in defiance. 

 At other times they leave the nest and fall in the water, 

 diving to an extraordinary distance before they rise again. 

 John shot a Gannet on the wing ; the flesh was black and 

 unpleasant. The Piping Plover, when missed by the shot, 

 rises almost perpendicularly, and passes sometimes out of 

 sight ; this is, I am convinced by the many opportunities I 

 have had to witness the occurrence, a habit of the species. 

 These islands are well watered by large springs, and rivulets 



