were not made obtuse by necessity. The Gannets and Guillemots dwell in countless myriads on these naked rocks, laying their eggs and rearing their progeny wherever the surface presents a ledge sufficiently broad to hold them. Their immense numbers render them an object of importance to the inhabitants of these barren islands, who derive from them, either in a fresh state or salted and dried, a considerable portion of their sustenance.

In some other situations the fowlers have recourse to a still more hazardous mode of procedure. The cliffs are sometimes twelve hundred feet in height, and fearfully overhanging. If it is determined to proceed from above, the adventurer prepares a rope, made either of straw or of hog's bristles, because these materials are less liable to be cut through by the sharp edge of the rock. Having fastened the end of the rope round his body, he is lowered down by a few comrades at the top to the depth of five or six hundred feet. He carries a large bag affixed to his waist, and a pole in his hand, and wears on his head a thick cap, as a protection against the fragments of rock which the friction of the rope perpetually loosens; large masses, however, occasionally fall and dash him to pieces.

Having arrived at the region of birds, he proceeds with the utmost coolness and address; placing his feet against a ledge, he will occasionally dart many fathoms into the air, to obtain a better view of the crannies in which the birds are nestling, take in all the details at a glance, and again shoot into their haunts. He takes only the eggs

and young, the old birds being too tough to be eaten. Caverns often occur in the perpendicular face of the rock, which are favourite resorts of the fowls; but the only access to such situations is by disengaging himself from the rope and either holding the end in his hand, while he collects his booty, or fastening it round some projecting corner.

I

have heard of an individual, who, either from choice or necessity, was accustomed to go alone on these expeditions; supplying the want of confederates above by firmly planting a stout iron bar in thè

earth, from which he lowered himself. One day, having found such a cavern as I have mentioned, he imprudently disengaged the rope from his body, and entered the cave with the end of it in his hand. In the eagerness of collecting, however, he slipped his hold of the rope, which immediately swung out several yards beyond his reach. The poor man was struck with horror; no soul was within hearing, nor was it possible to make his voice heard in such a position; the edge of the cliff so projected, that he never could be seen from the top, even if any one were to look for him; death seemed inevitable, and he felt the hopelessness of his situation. He remained many hours in a state bordering on stupefaction; at length he resolved to make one effort, which, if unsuccessful must be fatal. Having commended himself to God, he rushed to the margin of the cave and sprang into the air, providentially succeeded in grasping the pendulous rope, and was

saved.

Sometimes it is thought preferable to make the attempt from below: in this case, several approach the base in a boat; and the most dexterous, bearing a line attached to his body, essays to climb, assisted by his comrades, who push him from below with a pole. When he has gained a place where he can stand firmly, he draws up another with his rope, and then another, until all are up, except one left to manage the boat. They then proceed in exactly the same manner to gain a higher stage, the first climbing and then drawing up the others: and thus they ascend till they arrive at the level of the birds,

F

when they collect and throw down their booty to the boat. Sometimes the party remains several days on the expedition, sleeping in the crannies and caverns. This mode is attended with peculiar hazard; for, as a man often hangs suspended merely from the hands of a single comrade, it occasionally happens that the latter cannot sustain his weight, and thus lets him fall, or is himself drawn over the rock, and shares in his companion's miserable death.

"Half way down

Hangs one that gathers samphire-dreadful trade !"

is chiefly the Guillemot (Uria Troile), a bird some

what like the Penguin, but with a pointed beak. The Gannet (Sula Bassana) is of the Pelican tribe, and is confined, at least in large congregations, to one or two localities: of which the principal are the Bass-rock on the east coast of Scotland, and St.

Kilda, the most western of the Hebrides. On these rocky isles they assemble in such countless hosts that they can only be compared to a swarm of bees, or to a shower of snow, the air being filled with them. The inhabitants of the latter isle are said