BIRD ISLAND AND SAINT CROIX 1 99 



decent interval in which to make itself heard, had 

 perforce to keep up an almost continuous roar. We 

 were agreeably surprised therefore, after such a stormy 

 nit*-ht, to receive a call from Mr. N. the next mornino-, 

 who came to inform us that he thought we should be 

 able to land on St. Croix Island ; at any rate he 

 considered that the chances of doing so were in our 

 favour. When we came down to the jetty we found 

 that it was as Captain L. liad predicted, the rain had 

 beaten down the sea, and there was now only a smooth 

 rolling swell. We found all in readiness, and within 

 five minutes of reaching the tug, had shipped our 

 various paraphernalia on board and had got under way. 



After leaving the jetty we picked up and took in 

 tow a small boat, for the purpose of landing on St, 

 Croix Island. Soon oettinof clear of the laroe steamers 

 which stood furthest out to sea we found ourselves 

 among some porpoises, one of which would roll up 

 occasionally in a lazy way, close to the boat, then blow, 

 and disappear under water again. A few Cape Hens 

 glided in front of the tug and followed the course of 

 the waves, but there were not many other birds to be 

 seen. The scarcity of sea birds was very noticeable 

 round the jetty at Port Elizabeth, perhaps on account 

 of the absence of any harbour there is but little food 

 for them to j^ick up ; this is in striking contrast to the 

 harbour at Cape Town, where at most seasons of the 

 year Gannels, Duykers, and Gulls are to be seen by 

 hundreds, Penguins even making their way to the 

 entrance of the harbour. 



A few stragglers from the great colony of Can nets 

 on Bird Island were to be seen now and then as we 



