Our next visit was to Rock Island, the resort of countless numbers of sea-birds.  It is at the extreme northern end of the group, and consists of a high table-land, surrounded by precipitous cliffs.  As we approached, the gulls rose in masses so thick as positively to darken the air, while all around the sea was speckled with the white feathers of innumerable puffins.  On the cliffs were ranged numerous clusters of black cormorants, who seemed to be watching us eagerly.  Their plumage was very fine, being of a lustrous invisible green, while their eyes were of the brightest emerald hue.  The boats which went in pursuit brought back a number of gulls and puffins and cormorants, some of which Oliver begged might be preserved for stuffing.