A GREAT GANNET COLONY 153 



were, they at once offered to take us to their 

 haunt, which proved to be close to the settlement 

 and about three-quarters of an hour's walk from 

 our anchorage. The way led through a thickly- 

 wooded country, but after a time we emerged 

 into a plantation of cocoanut trees, the fruit of 

 which forms the main product of the island, and 

 shortly afterwards we reached the settlement — a 

 group of wooden cottages thatched with leaves of 

 the cocoanut palm. 



The sea was dashing on the shore within a few 

 yards of the village, behind which was a large 

 mangrove swamp, where we discovered the nesting- 

 place of the gannets. Their numbers were in- 

 calculable ; thousands upon thousands were flying 

 round overhead ; streams of them were coming 

 from the sea, and every tree was covered by them. 

 Frigate birds were also very abundant, and they 

 doubtless secured plenty of food, for the gannets 

 were most cowardly ; directly a frigate bird 

 appeared they dropped the fish they were carrying 

 and made off with harsh cries of alarm. 



The breeding season appeared to be nearly over, 

 and, as the night was fast approaching, it was 

 necessary to obtain such specimens as we required 

 without delay. At the first shot the air was filled 

 with an immense number of birds, and their 

 clamour as they whirled overhead was deafening^ 



The nests were mere collections of sticks in 

 the branches of mangrove trees. A few of them 



