BIRD ROCK 187 
came to take us from the Rock, and early in the 
morning we heard his fog horn from the gray bank 
below telling where the Sea Gem, as yet unseen, was 
anchored. 
In the hope of better weather I deferred photo- 
graphing the Gannets, the only accessible colony of 
which was on the north side of the Rock; but forced 
now to make the best of the existing conditions, 
I took the twin-lens, fastened one end of a rope 
about my waist, and gave the other end to Captain 
Bourque, in order that, unhampered by thought of 
fall, I might creep along the slippery ledges where 
the birds nested. 
The fog had lifted, but the day was gloomy, and 
only the white plumage of the birds and a wide-open 
lens yielded successful photographs. 
It was my first visit to the big white birds, who, 
in spite of persecution, have as yet acquired but little 
fear of man, and as with hoarse croaks and a dash- 
ing of wings they pitched onto the narrow ledges 
near me, their size and boldness, in connection with 
my somewhat insecure footing, aroused in me a feel- 
ing which I had not experienced when surrounded 
by the smaller Murres, Auks, and Puffins. The 
main nesting ledge was out of reach below, but 
small groups of birds were nearer, and these I pho- 
tographed at a distance of about ten feet.’ 
These Gannets are magnificent birds, and when 
on the wing exhibit a combination of power and 
grace excelled by no other bird I have seen. They 
are most impressive when diving, as with half-closed 
wings, like great spearheads, they descend from a 
height of about forty feet with a force and speed 
