THROUGH WILD EUROPE 215 



could see the white groups of Pelicans clustered on 

 their islands, and swimming about in the lagoon. 

 Numerous Black-headed Gulls were industriously 

 fishing just in front of us ; while in the shallows 

 were wading birds of various descriptions with 

 Squacco Herons and occasional Little Egrets, and 

 overhead were soaring Sea Eagles. These inter- 

 esting glimpses of bird life before us, with the 

 sombre depths of the pine-forests behind, made 

 it an ideal camping-place for two enthusiastic 

 ornithologists. 



After a hasty meal we were soon under weigh in the 

 dug-out canoes awaiting us, while our men were 

 busy cutting firewood and getting things snug and 

 shipshape for the night, and preparing a hot dinner 

 ready for our return. On the way we shot a Green- 

 shank, and saw a fine adult Sea Eagle knock over a 

 Black-headed Gull, which it left behind for us to 

 pick up. 



The three islands used by the Pelicans were 



covered with nests. B took the trouble to 



count them, and made out 250 nests with eggs. Six 

 nests held clutches of three eggs, the rest only two. 

 There were already many freshly hatched young 

 birds, and the eggs without exception were much 

 incubated. They must therefore lay very early in the 

 year, early in February or thereabouts ; and the fresh 

 eggs taken by us in May of the previous year must 



