58 
more properly a stupendous rock) in the 
Frith of Forth, on the coast of Scotland. 
" In the spring of 1807 (says Bullock) 
I visited this celebrated rock, (once the 
state prison of Scotland), accompanied by 
Arthur Strickland, Esq. of York, for the 
purpose of procuring specimens of the va- 
rious water-fowl that annually resort to it 
at that season of the year for security, 
during the important business of rearing 
their young. 
" We arrived under the towering and 
tremendous projecting cliffs of the east 
end, just before sunrise, and approached 
as silent as possible. At a little distance, 
the precipice appeared as if composed of 
chalk; but on a nearer approach, we dis- 
covered that this effect was produced by the 
excrement, as well as the white plumage 
of the innumerable water-fowl that covered 
the cliffs. The whole of the various fa- 
milies were just awake, and preparing, by 
shaking their feathers and pluming their 
wings, for the busy occupation of the com- 
ing day. After attentively observing them 
for some time, on a given signal we fired 
