38 
UNSUCCESSFUL SHOOTING. 
the continued ringing of the fishermen's shouts ; — the 
almost everlasting echo of our guns, which every crag and 
cranny seemed determined to reiterate ; — and, above all, 
and harmonizing all, the tumultuous roar of the restless 
ocean, as its long and heavy swell dashed against the 
perpendicular but rugged cliff; — produced such a combi- 
nation of sights and sounds, as, once seen and heard, 
can never be forgotten. 
But where was the produce of our united discharge ? 
Twenty or thirty birds, at least, ought to have fallen plump 
into the sea ; for we fired right in their faces, and some of 
them seemed to be within ten yards of us : however, not a 
bird fell, nor did there appear to be a single feather touch- 
ed. We stood gaping at one another in unfeigned asto- 
nishment. Was the miss to be attributed to the rolling of 
the boat, or the swell ? Certainly not ; for in such a crowd 
all nicety of aim would have been useless. Had we for- 
gotten to put in the shot ? Still very improbable. The 
fishermen explained the mystery ; and I doubt not your 
ornithological readers have done the same : the feathers on 
the breasts and necks of sea-birds are so closely matted to- 
gether, and form a covering so smooth and compact, that 
shots striking in front will not enter, but instantly glance 
off, without doing the slightest injury. As soon as we un- 
derstood our error we were determined to rectify it, and 
were loading again in an instant. Now, as each little covey 
(for they fly in coveys, like partridges) passed over us, we 
took them in the rear, and to every barrel a bird fell thud 
into the water. This plan answered dehghtfully; and find- 
ing its efficacy, our spirits, which were somewhat damped 
by the first disappointment, now rose with the excitement 
of the scene ; and although, partly owing to the motion 
