THE GULL. 
229 
give, at the same time, some particulars relative to the 
habits of the birds of which we are now speaking. 
The spot we allude to, is at the back of a moun- 
tain near Holyhead, which terminates abruptly in a 
series of precipices. At the foot of one of these is a 
small island, called the South Stack, on which a light- 
house has been erected within the last few years, 
well known to those who navigate the Irish Channel. 
Upon this rock, which, before the erection of the 
light-house, was almost inaccessible, myriads of sea- 
fowl used to build ; hut when the works were com- 
menced in 1808, the unusual appearance of persons 
on the island, with their noisy operation of blasting, 
so disturbed the proceedings of the birds recently 
arrived, that, with the exception of a solitary pair of 
Gulls, the whole body, including Guillemots and 
Razor-bills, took to flight, leaving the workmen in 
full possession of a spot which the birds, from time 
unknown, had occupied by a sort of prescriptive right. 
This solitary pair had taken post on an inaccessible 
ledge of hare rock, in the face of a precipice, and 
seemed to he aware, that nothing hut shot or stones 
could dislodge them. Their determined confidence 
in the security of their stronghold met with its due 
reward, orders being issued that none should molest 
them. The consequence was, that in a short time 
they became quite familiarized to the noise and 
bustle, and remained until their young were reared, 
and in a condition to shift for themselves. 
In the ensuing Spring, the same pair, as was sup- 
posed, retook possession of their old post — and strict 
orders, as before, were given, on no account to dis- 
turb them ; and, as a further protection, no fire-arms 
