edges of the precipice, the mountain affumes a pyramidal forJ
the whole circumference of the bafe is two miles. On the eJ
fide is a ftupendous and amazing aflemblage of precipitous J
lumnar rocks o f great height rifing in wild feries one above tfe
other: beneath thefe, amidft the ruins that had fallen from t i j
to time, are groves o f elder trees, the only trees of the place]
the doping furface being almoft entirely covered with fern J
fliort grafs. The quadrupeds that inhabit this rock are goi
and rabbets : the birds that neftle in the precipices are nimej
ous as fwarms o f bees; and not .unlike them in their lig h t t
and from the crag. On the verge o f the precipice dwell the gaJ
nets and the fhags. Beneath are guillemots, and the razor bills]
and under them the grey gulls and kittiwaks, helped by their a]
to fill the deafening chorus. The puffins made themfelves bill
roughs above: the lea pies found a fcanty place for their egg]
near the bafe.- Some land birds made this their haunt: amoi]
them ravens, hooded crows, pigeons, wheat ears and rock larks]
and what is wonderful, throftles exerted the fame melody in tliij
fcene of horror as they do in the groves o f Hertford/hire.
Three reptiles appeared here very unexpectedly : the nakel
black fnail, the common and the ftriped ffiell fnail: not volunteel
inhabitants, but probably brought in the.falads of fome vilitanl
from the neighboring ffiores.
This rock is the property o f the Earl of Caffils, who rents I
for 3 3 I. per am. to people who come here to take the younj
gannets-for the tableland the other birds for the fake of theil
feathers. The laft are caught when the young birds are readn
for their flight. The fowler afcends the rocks with great hazardj
a