290 
GANNET CORVORANT. Crass II. 
Nor do the rocks of S¢. Kilda seem to be 
less frequented by these birds; for MJartm 
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 turfashes, 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, mensibus Maio & Junio nidis ovis pullisque propemo- 
dum tota instrata est, adeo ut vix, pre eorum copia pedem libere 
ponere liceat: tantaque supervolantium turba, ut nubium instar, 
solem celumque auferant: tantusque vociferantium clangor & 
strepitus, ut prope alloquentes vix audias. Si suljectum mare 
inde, tanquam ex edita turrt & altissimo precipitio despeaeris, 
idem quoguo verstim, infinitis diversorum generum avibus natan- 
tibus predeque inhiantibus, opertum videas. Si circumnavigando 
imminentem clivum suspicere libuerit ; videas in singulis prerupte 
loci crepidinilus & recessibus, avium cujuslilet generis & mag- 
nitudinis, ordines innumerabiles, plures sane quam nocte, sereno 
celo, stelle conspiciuntur. Si advolantes avolantesque emints 
adspexeris, apum profecto ingens examen oredas. De generat. 
Animal. Exercit. 11. 
