192 SOME BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



large rings of dirty- white foam that we passed now and 

 again. As we neared the islands Gannets became 

 more numerous, while occasionally a buoyant Penguin, 

 turning its striped head from side to side, dived at our 

 approach. 



The first island that we passed was Seal Island, 

 and though we were not within half a mile of it, we 

 could hear, above the roar of the surf, the bellowing of 

 the sea-lions, at which noise the captain became greatly 

 excited. " See that old feller on top of the rock there, 

 with the yellow mane?" he said. "That's 'Ginger.' 

 We always call him ' Ginger ' because of the colour of 

 his mane. He's been there as lono- as I can remember. 

 Yah ! you old brute you," and he shook his fist at him. 



On the next island there were a few Duykers (Cor- 

 morants) of different kinds, and it was here that the sea- 

 lions used to live, but owing to sailors occasionally 

 landing, they removed to the more isolated rocks. 

 Gannets were sailing round the far side of the largest 

 island, on which stands the lighthouse, but we had not 

 yet come within sight of perhaps one of the most extra- 

 ordinary crowds of bird life that is to be met with. 



We rounded the north end of Bird Island first, and 

 then, close to the lighthouse, and covering quite an acre 

 and a half of ground, were to be seen thousands of Cape 

 Gannets. The ground was white with the birds them- 

 selves, while above them in the air, a kind of kaleido- 

 scopic effect was produced by the ever-moving wings. 

 Among a crowd of birds so thickly packed together as 

 these Gannets were, one naturally wonders if it is pos- 

 sible for them to keep to their own eggs ; perhaps each 

 bird recognises its own special place from the position of 



