34 KNOWING BIRDS THROUGH STORIES 



species breed on the Pacific coast and on the large lakes 

 of the Far West. 



The old birds gather dead weeds, a few sticks, moss and 

 seaweed by the bushel and often build their nest as much 

 as two feet high. The nests are built about as close to- 

 gether as they can be placed, these birds seemingly feeling 

 more secure when close together. 



Audubon, who visited the nesting grounds, tells ns that 

 when his boat landed, the parent birds all rose together and 

 flew out to sea, alighting well out of range of their guns, 

 where they remained until his party had finished their 

 explorations and left the nests. He says he found young 

 birds of all sizes as well as eggs, which makes it plain 

 that these birds do not all nest at the same time. When 

 they drew near to the nests the young birds which were old 

 enough to do so promptly scrambled out of the nest and 

 huddled together in little groups of fifteen or twenty, 

 while others hid themselves in the crevices and crannies in 

 the rock. They tried their best to flatten themselves out 

 against the rocks and earth so that they would be as in- 

 conspicuous as possible and then crept along very much as 

 I used to do when I was trying to creep up on game. Not 

 being possessed of both hands and feet as I am, they did 

 their best by using their wings, their feet, and even their 

 bills in pulling themselves along over the surface. 



If any one approaches closely they begin to make their 

 necks writhe very much like the writhing of a snake. As 

 Audubon says, this motion has such a snakelike appearance 

 that it is positively revolting, nor does the resemblance 

 end here. No sooner does the intruder get close than the 

 birds begin hissing loudly and continuously. They doubt- 

 less feel that they will be able to frighten away their 



