HAUNT OF THE LUMMES. 
205 
sea, presented an extraordinary scene. At the approach of the 
explorer and his companions, its feathered inhabitants rose like a 
cloud of wings from ledge, and crag, and rocky angle. The flocks 
increased as they drew nearer. At first it was like the distant sound 
of a waterfall ; then the murmur deepened rapidly, and, close to 
the cliff, so rose, and swelled, and gathered, that no human voice 
was audible above it. The din was produced by the sweep of 
countless pinions, and the shrill cries of the birds perched on the 
cliS" or fluttering near it. Each ledge of the great high precipice, 
sloping or horizontal, level or irregular, a few inches wide or two 
or three feet, was occupied by the lummes, sitting on the hinder 
part of the body, pressed close to one another, with heads turned 
seawards. Ranged in compact order, they occupied the smallest 
possible space, and from a distance looked not unlike battalions of 
soldiers, in white tunic and black kepi, drawn up for review. 
Those on the lower tiers could easily be counted; higher up the 
lines could still be traced; on the summit of the clifi" nothing was 
distinguishable. At first the adventurers were puzzled by the im- 
movable attitude of the birds; but they proved to be females, each 
sitting on its single egg. They build no nest, but deposit the egg 
on the naked rock. Then the mother raises it with her beak, 
balances it on one end, and seats herself upon it, as on a right 
royal throne. 
Discharging their guns simultaneously, the explorers brought down 
a goodly number of victims. How great a change passed over the 
appearance of the cliff"! Every cry was silenced; the birds leaped 
into the air ; the winnowing of their rapid wings was like the breath 
of a storm pouring down an Alpine gorge; so numerous were the 
hosts, that as they flew they cast a shadow like a cloud. Some of 
the eggs, abandoned too precipitately, rolled over the brink, and 
down the cliff", streaking it with white and yellow. 
The birds did not remain long on the wing, however. The main 
body swooped down upon the waters some four hundred yards distant, 
and absolutely blackened their surface. Others regained the precipice, 
fearful lest their eggs should grow cold; and in due time the rest 
