to the Cape Verde Islands. 101 



wound our way along the shore-line^ the extent of its beat 

 appearing to be about a mile. 



From the main path that winds through a range of pre- 

 cipitous hills, we struck off and took a small goat-track that 

 skirts the sea, in some places so close to the edge of the 

 cliffs that one false step wovdd involve the fall of both 

 donkey and rider down a height of more than 40 feet. This 

 route, although tortuous and most difficult, enabled us to 

 observe the bird-life which existed on the low stretch of 

 black rocks fringing the cliffs. The first bird was a Little 

 Egret (Ardea garzetta), which kept ambling along the rough 

 slabs of rocks with head bent low in search of food, its 

 white body dijDping and rising with its uneven gait, and 

 at times completely veiled by spray. On a close approach, 

 the bird stood stock-still, craned up its head till neck, body, 

 and legs were in one straight line, and a moment later made 

 out to sea, with a flapping flight, keeping all the while close 

 to the surface. 



We next disturbed a Whimbrel and a small party of Turn- 

 stones, three of which were peacefully dozing on a piece of 

 rock, while the fourth stood almost knee-deep in a shallow 

 pool. At the sound of our footsteps they rose up, uttering 

 their pretty trilling notes, and the Whimbrel followed them 

 closely ; its persistent cry, of seven whistles only, striking a 

 deeper key. One of the Turnstones had almost assumed its 

 summer plumage. Another mile of difficult travelling 

 brought us to open ground. Hitherto the range of hills on 

 our right had hugged the shore closely, but at this point they 

 receded and left a wide open tract. Just before we emerged 

 upon this open land, a small conical rock, rising up from the 

 sea and about 20 yards from the shore, arrested our atten- 

 tion. A more careful examination discovered a fine adult 

 Cormorant [Phalacrocorax lucidus) ensconced in one of its 

 hollows. He was keeping watch over his consort, who sat on 

 her nest just above his head. Pushing forward, a cluster of 

 native huts shortly came in sight, nestling at the foot of the 

 hill-range. 



Here the cries of the Ospreys told us that we could not be 



