290 GANNET CORVORANT. Class II. 



Nor do the rocks of aS*^. Kilda seem to be 

 less frequented by these birds; for Martin 

 assures us, that the inhabitants of that small 

 island consume annually no less than 22,600 

 young birds of this species, besides an amazing 

 quantity of their eggs ; these being their princi= 

 pal support throughout the year ; they preserve 

 both eggs and fowls in small pyramidal stone 

 buildings, covering them with turf ashes, to 

 preserve them from moisture. This is a dear 

 bought food, earned at the hazard of their 

 lives, either by climbing the most difficult and 

 narrow paths, where (to appearance) they can 

 barely cling, and that too, at an amazing height 

 over the raging sea; or else being lowered 

 down from above, they collect their annual 

 provision, thus hanging in midway air ; placing 



superficies, mensihus Maio isf Junio nidis ov'is pidlistpie propemo- 

 dum tola insfrata est, adeo ut vix, prce eorum copia pedem libere 

 • p oner e lie eat : tantaque supervolantium turha, ut nuhiiim instar, 



solem ccelumque aiiftrant : tantusque vociferantium clangor £s? 

 strepitus, ut prope alloquentes vix audias. Si siibjectum mare 

 hide, tanquam ex edita turri &' altissimo prcecipiiio despexeris, 

 idem quoquo versum, infinitis diversorum generum avilus natan- 

 iihusprcedceque inlmmtihus, opei'tiim videas. Si circumnavigando 

 imminetitem clivum suspicere lihuerit ; videas in singulis prcerupti 

 loci crepidinihus iS' recessihus, avium cujuslilet generis (Sf mag- 

 , nitudinis, ordines innumeraliles, pliires sane qicam node, sereno 



ccelo, stellce conspiciunfur. Si advolantes avolantesque eminus 

 adspexeris, apum profeclo ingens exumen credas, De generat. 

 Animal. Exercit. 11. 



