LETTER XX. 



141 



sail, and they generally escape by getting the weather gauge, either 

 by the boat being unable to get up to them, or, at worst, they can 

 readily take flight up the wind when danger becomes pressing. 



There are certain rocks very much frequented by the Cormor- 

 ants, where they rest and bask in the sun, often with wings 

 outspread, " hanging out to dry." Here they often sit motionless 

 for hours, quite erect, looking exactly like rows of gigantic black 

 bottles set out for a soiree of Fingalians, the gigantic heroes who 

 built up the columns of Staffa for their banqueting hall, when 

 " the song and the shell went round." 



As the boat draws nearer, signs of uneasiness begin to appear — 

 awakening yawns, stretching of wings and waddlings to the over- 

 hanging edge of the rock ; all the long necks are twisting about 

 in active motion, as if the prudent creatures were trying to 

 thoroughly " see their way clear " before taking a leap. Crack ! 

 goes a cartridge at sixty yards, when down go the black gentry, 

 tumbling and rolling head over heels down the face of the rock, 

 and disappear into the water. 

 You think you have 

 murdered the whole 

 gang; but wait a 

 second, and 

 then they all 

 come merrily 



bobbing up .'to 



the 



surface, a 



forest 



