“It is said that, if the female guillemot loses her egg, she lays another; and, if that goes, another; so that she always has one egg to sit upon; just as a spider is enabled to form several new webs, if you destroy its old ones, though it would not have made the first any larger or stronger if it had been left unmolested. Would you like to see a willock’s egg, Agnes?” “Very much indeed.” Mr. Merton rang the bell; and, at his desire, the waiter procured an egg of one of these birds from an old woman who lived in the neighbourhood; and who, after boiling the eggs to make them keep, had them for sale. This egg Mr. Merton purchased, and gave Agnes. It was very large, and of a pear-shape; and its colour was a fine bluish green, blotched and streaked with reddish brown and black. “I cannot imagine how the people can get these eggs,” said Agnes; “since they are laid on such narrow ledges of rock, and at such a height above the sea.” “It is indeed astonishing,” said Mr. Merton; “but the young men who are brought up to the sea acquire early, wonderful activity of limbs and steadiness of nerves; so that they can climb crags almost as easily as you or I can walk on level ground. Besides, as most of them are very poor, they are glad to get a few pence by the sale of these eggs, and do not mind incurring some danger.” “I am sure I never could accomplish such a feat,” said Agnes. “Not at once,” said her mother; “but, if it were necessary for you to learn to climb crags, you might easily do so by practising a little every day; as there are very few things, indeed, that patience and perseverance will not accomplish in time.” CHAPTER V. Young Londoner and Neptune.—Disobedience of the Young Fisherman.—Fossils.—Fine Water.—Alum Bay.—The Needles.—Old Couple.—Dull Road.—Fertility of the Isle of Wight.