BIRD ROCK. 335 
to sea. However, after arriving at 
Bryon Island, the most northern 
of the Magdalens, twelve miles 
from Grosse Isle, and an equal 
distance from the rock, the run 
to the latter can be made, under 
favorable conditions, in a small 
boat with comfort and safety; 
but it is by no means certain 
when one may return, and the 
voyager in a small boat should 
go prepared to be fog-bound or 
storm-bound on the rock. 
We were fortunate in secur- 
ing a thirty-ton schooner, the 
Sea Gem of Grosse Isle, Captain 
Hubbard Taker, master,— whom 
I can commend as both man 
and sailor,—and set sail for the rock on the 
afternoon of July 24, 1898. We anchored off 
Bryon for the night, and after a dense fog 
had cleared, continued our voyage at eleven 
o'clock the following morning. A fresh south- 
west breeze brought us under the lee of the 
rock in an hour and a half, where we were wel- 
comed by Mr. Peter Bourque, the keeper of 
the light, whose cordial invitation to make 
his domain our home relieved us of the em- 
barrassment of being self-made guests. Our 
dory was soon beached on the narrow, rock- 
beset shore at the foot of the crane, and for 
the first time Bird Rock became to us a 
reality. With bag and baggage, we were 
now packed in the small, wooden crate 
which was to carry us over the last stage of 
our journey; the command, “Hoist away,” 
was shouted to the men at the windlass 
above, and after six minutes of suspense we 
<.atel” 
: 2 iw 
SANE ROS ADEY) 
YOUNG PETREL AND NESTING MATERIAL AS REMOVED 
FROM BURROW. 
YOUNG MURRES AND EGG. 
were deposited on the summit. The slow 
turning of the crate, bringing now cliff, now 
sea, before us, and the sudden jars as the 
rope in winding slipped off the preceding 
coil, were incidents which most novices at 
this means of progression will doubtless find 
of unexpected interest. 
To a naturalist this ascent possesses an 
indescribable fascination. Every suitable 
ledge and crevice in the face of the rock was 
occupied by groups of birds, who, almost with- 
in reach, regarded us with fearless curiosity. 
Here were kittiwakes, murres, and razorbills 
in attendance on their young—all so abun- 
dant, and so much at home, that we seemed 
to have reached the heart of the bird world. 
Arriving at the top, we were greeted by 
Mr. Bourque’s two assistants and his daugh- 
ter, a girl of sixteen, who completed the 
population of the islet; to which, however, 
should be added one cow, an important mem- 
ber of the rock colony, who had reached her 
elevated position in life by means of the 
same apparatus with which we had just 
gratefully parted company. 
Numerous buildings, which we had barely 
noticed from the sea, were found to form a 
miniature village on the nearly level summit 
of the rock, and gave to the scene an at- 
mosphere of comfort and homeliness which 
emphasized one’s sense of isolation. 
These details, however, were observed 
later, the favorable light prevailing at the 
time of our arrival being far too valuable to 
be used for anything but photography. Not 
a moment was lost, therefore, in unpack- 
ing cameras and plate-holders. The latter, 
numbering twenty-one, furnished forty-two 
plates; but even this supply was soon ex- 
hausted. Going to the western end of the 
rock, which was well illuminated by the 
