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The precipices of Freshwater, like those at Bembridge, are frequented at periodical seasons by prodigious flights of sea-fowl of various kinds.  The birds are taken by the country-people at the hazard of their lives; they descend by means of a stout rope which turns round a crow-bar firmly fixed in the ground above; one end of the rope being fastened about their body, and the other end held in their hands, by which they lower and raise themselves from ledge to ledge of the horrid precipice.  The aquatic fowl furnish most amusing sport to numberless shooting-parties during the season.  The principal species are ... puffins, gulls, cormorants, Cornish choughs, the eider duck, auks, divers, guillemots, razor-bills, widgeons, willocks, daws, starlings, and pigeons.  Their breeding-season is in the months of May, June, and July, and towards the end of August the greater part of them migrate with their new generations.  Their flesh is too rank and fishy to be eaten, and is used only for baiting crab and lobster pots; the feathers are valuable, and the eggs are bought chiefly by visitors for curiosity.

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THE ROADS TO YARMOUTH, NEWPORT, &c.

>> Having visited the western extremity of the Island, we return—­either by CALBOURNE to Newport, which is the nearest; or round by YARMOUTH, this being perhaps the less monotonous road of the two.

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The tourist, on leaving the magnificent scenes of the western coast, can hardly expect to see many spots in the remainder of his journey, capable of engaging his attention.  He may still however enjoy some very charming prospects, particularly in the neighbourhood of Yarmouth, whither we shall now suppose him to shape his course.

We shall pass two seats:  FARRINGFORD, on the north side of the down, surrounded by flourishing plantations; and about a mile and a half further, the fine old manor-house of AFTON.

THE VILLAGE OF FRESHWATER is prettily interspersed with wood; but except the church (whose front is more picturesque than most in the island), has nothing to notice;—­unless it should fortunately happen to be high-tide at the time of our passing, and then the RIVER YAR will have a lovely effect—­winding between gently rising banks feathered with grove and copse, shrouding here a mansion, and there a cottage; while pleasure-boats and an unusual number of swans are seen gliding and sporting on its silver bosom.

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Passing over a neat bridge, and through the fertile parish of THORLEY, whose church is the plainest in the island, we reach

YARMOUTH,