38 MUTTON BIRDS 



Chapter V. 



SECOND CAMP ON HEREKOPERE. 



|E readied Herekopere for our last and 

 ')\\ longest visit on November 23rd. Be- 

 ;^ sides our desire to discover more of 

 the habits of the Mutton Bird, we 

 hoped also to get nests of the Sea 

 Hawk, Robin, and Bush Creeper. The last- 

 named species we knew was no longer in flock, — 

 in fact, a few days earlier on another island, I 

 had noticed one of them carrying in its beak 

 material for a nest. 



Upon this other island, by-the-by, we had 

 intended to pitch camp, and orders had been 

 given for the erection of tents and the collection 

 of dry firewood. Owing^, however, to heavy 

 weather, Leask had been unable even to effect a 

 landing ; and the plan, very greatly to my regret, 

 fell through. 



On the 23rd, then, we landed without mishap 

 at Herekopere, and, directly our impedimenta 

 had been carried out of the vessel, I started with 

 high hopes again to explore. 



It was not altogether a fortunate day; for 

 though I got a couple of Robin's nests one was 

 in a position hopeless for photogra]3hy or 

 ol)servation. A Bell-bird's nest with eggs was 

 also inaccessible. Two pairs of Sea Hawk had 



