FAUNcV OF ST. CROIX ISLAND 101 



were drowned iii the deafening roar of the undisciplined 

 band. I believe that a menagerie composed of agitated 

 donkcA s, cattle and pigs in the proper proportions, would 

 produce a somewhat similar result. Each bray issued 

 forth in three or four lusty efforts of expiration, with 

 the final trump specially loud and prolonged: then came 

 the undignified collapse into a long shrill squeal, the 

 inspiration. When braying, they directed their heads 

 upwards to the skies, with due solemnity. 



The choir was situated at some distance from our 

 camp, amongst nesting birds high up on the hillside. I 

 believe that nesting birds did not actually participate 

 therein. Though no actual proof was obtained, I suspect 

 that the vocalists were mostly, if not entirely, adult 

 males. 



The performance involves a certain amount of fatigue 

 and perhaps for this reason there are no matinees. 

 During daytime, the bird may often be seen in the act 

 of yawning: with head upraised, he deliberately opens 

 wide his mouth and takes in air. 



Nevertheless, there is a good deal of noise and squab- 

 bling in a penguin camp during daytime. Where sitting 

 birds are numerous, the whole population is in a state 

 of tension, ready to fight with or without due provoca- 

 tion : they bite each other mercilessly, the victor often 

 pursuing his vanquished foe for considerable distances. 

 They have a characteristic bark when alarmed at close 

 quarters, something like that of baboons. 



In their choice of a nesting site, penguins are not at all 

 fastidious. They lay their eggs practically anywhere, 

 either in the shelter of overhanging rocks or quite in the 

 open, though the rock-shelters are preferred. 



As one passes by a sitting bird, she emits a short 

 hoarse bark, and crouching lower to protect the egg with 

 her breast, pokes up her beak and makes a vicious lunge 

 at the intruder : as long as danger threatens she remains 

 on the qui vive, incessantly twisting her head first oa one 



