12 



The Bird Rock Group. 



intervals to warn vessels of their proximity to the Rock. To the 

 use of this cannon is also in part attributable the diminution in the 

 ranks of the other birds inhabiting the Rock, and, writing of his 

 visit in 1881, Mr. William Brewster remarks: "At each discharge 

 the frightened Murres fly from the Rock in clouds, nearly every 

 sitting bird taking its egg into the air between its thighs and 

 dropping it after flying a few yards. This was repeatedly 



THE LANDING AT THE BASE OF THE ROCK, SHOWING CRATE. 

 (From M Bird Studies with a Camera," by permission of D. Appleton & Co.) 



observed during our visit, and more than once a perfect shower 

 of eggs fell into the water about our boat." 1 



Bird Rock To-Day. 

 In spite of the great decrease which has occurred in Bird 

 Rock's population, it still remains one of the ornithological 

 wonders of our Atlantic coast. Unfortunately, however, the 



1 For a further history of Bird Rock see Brewster, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., 1883. Lucas, 

 " The Auk "—New York— V., 18S8, pp. 129, 278 ; also, in connection with the identity of Ap- 

 ponatz, Hardy, Ibid., 380, Chapman, Bird Studies with a Camera." 



