Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/334

Rh small rock. Three or four eggs are laid, as large as those of a hen, of a chalky white surface, varied with pale blue.



"The most extensive colony" observes Sir William Jardine, "which has ever come under our observation, is one in the Isle of Man, on 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 near them, with the hope