GREEN-CRESTED CORMORANT. 241 
the precipitous coast adjacent to the Calf, of such 
elevation, that the centre was out of range, either 
from the top or from the sea ; there they nestled 
in deep horizontal fissures, conscious apparently of 
their security, and would poke out their long necks, 
to ascertain the reason of the noise below, or when 
a ball struck the rock noar them, with the hope of 
causing them to fly. There were hundreds of nests, 
and the birds not sitting kept flying in front of the 
rock, passing and repassing so long as anything re- 
mained to disturb them. One, of a pale grey 
colour, mingled among the other dark birds, and 
was an object of request, but our perseverance was 
unavailing ; for not breeding, it took to the open 
sea when much annoyed. On approaching this 
resort, and also at a similar, but smaller one, on St. 
Bee’s Head, few of the birds quitted the rock ; but, 
at the surprise of our first shots, they fell, as it were, 
or darted straight to the water, some of them close to 
the boat, so much so as at first to cause us to think 
that great havoc had been made, in which we were 
soon undeceived, by seeing numerous heads appear- 
ing at a distance, and the birds immediately making 
off in safety ; they soon, however, learned to sit 
and look down in content, though at new sta- 
tions we procured specimens by one firing at the 
rock, and another taking the birds as they darted 
to the water. Caves are also resorted to as breeding 
places by this bird, on the ledges of which the nest 
is placed. On the Bass Rock and the Isle of May, 
where only a few resort, they select the deep caves ; 
