BIRD ROCK 15'^ 



portion of the flat, ])vo,iectiiig shelves. Godwin 

 said, with the co(jhiess of a man who liad visited this 

 Rock for ten successive seasons, tliat what we saw 

 was not snow, Init Gaiinets. I rubbed my eyes, took 

 my spyglass, and in an instant the strangest picture 

 stood before mo. Tlioy were birds we saw — a mass 

 of birds of such a size as I never before cast my 

 eyes on. The whole of my party stood astounded 

 and amazed, and all came to the conclusion that 

 such a sight was of itself sufficient to invite any one 

 to come across the gulf to view it at this season. 

 The nearer we approached the greater our surprise 

 at the enorQious number of these Ijirds, all calmly 

 seated on their eggs or newly hatched brcjod, their 

 heads all turned to windward and toward us. The 

 air above fur a liundreil yards, and for some dis- 

 tance around the whole Rock, was lillcd with Gan- 

 nets on the wing, whi(di, from our ]H>siti(iii, made it 

 appear as if a heavy fall of snow was directly aliove 

 us." (Audul)on and his Journals, i, ]>. iKiO.) 



From his ])ilot, Godwin. Audubon secured some 

 information concerning tlie Gaunets tliat then 

 nested on the top of the Rock. He writes : " The 

 whole surface is perfectly covered with nests, placed 

 about two feet a])art, in such regular order that you 

 may look through the lines as you would look 

 through those of a planted patch of sweet potatoes 

 or cabbages. The fishermen who kill these birds to 

 get their flesh for codfish bait ascend in parties of 

 six or eight, armed with clubs ; sometimes, indeed, 

 the party comprises the crews of several vessels. 

 As they reach the top, the birds, alarmed, rise 

 with a noise like thunder, and fly off in such a 



