482 GANNET. Clafs if. 



Nor do the rocks of St. K> 7 Jcf teems to be lefs fre- 

 quented by thefe birds -, for Martin allures us, that 

 the inhabitants of that fmall ifland confume annually 

 no lefs than 22,600 young birds of this fpecies, be- 

 fides an amazing quantity of their eggs; thefe being 

 their principal fupport throughout the year ; they pre- 

 ferve both eggs and fowls in fmall pyramidal fione 

 buildings, covering them with turf allies, to preferve 

 them from moifture. This is a dear-bought food, 

 earned at the hazard of their lives, either by climbing 

 the raoft difficult and narrow pachs, where (to ap- 

 pearance) they can barely cling, and that too, at an a- 

 mazing height over a raging lea : or eli'e being 

 lowered down from above, they collect their annual 

 provifion, thus hanging in midway air; placing their 

 whole dependance on the uncertain footing of one per- 

 fon who holds the rope, by which they are fufpended 

 at the top of the precipice. 



The Gannets are birds of palfage. Their firft ap- 

 pearance in thofe iflands is in March ; their continuance 

 there till Auguft or September, according as the inhabi- 

 tants take or leave their firft egg; but in general the 

 time of breeding, and that of their departure feems 

 to coincide with the arrival of the herring, and the 

 migration of that fifh (which is their principle food) 



fubjeftum mare inde, tanquam ex edit a turri Iff altijjlmo pracipitio def- 

 pexeris, idem quo quo versum, infinitis diiierforum generum wvibus natan- 

 tibus prad&que inbiar.tibus, opertum videos. Si arcumnaijigando im- 

 tninentem cli-uum fi'fpicere libuent ; i/ideas in ftngulis frterapti loci ere- 

 pidinibus iff rec'ejjibus, aviu?n cjujlibet generis & magnit /minis, or dines 

 innumerabiles . plures fane quan node, fereno cash, ftelUe con/puiuntur. 

 Si ad-jolantes auolantefque eminus adjpsxeris, apum profecio ingens ex- 

 amen credos. De generat. Animal. Exercit. 11. 



out 



