C'h]:esf,ii.\.x. — Notes on the Three Kings Islands. 411 



LaudiDg oil small and exposed rocks at a distance from the 

 mainland is always an undertaking requiring some care, and 

 not devoid of danger. In this case there was no shelter or 

 jutting point to break the force of the long ocean-swell con- 

 tinually' rolling in, even in the finest vs-eather ; and great care 

 had to be taken in approaching the rocks, for if driven broad- 

 side on the boat would be instantly sv/amped and stove in. 

 After some search a rock with a perpendicular face towa.rds the 

 sea, and with deep water alongside, v;as selected as the land- 

 ing-place ; and by taking adviintage of favourable opportunities, 

 our party were able, one by one, to jump on to this fron.i the 

 bow of the boat. No time was lost in making a start for the 

 sunmiit of the island. Bounding some huge rocks which lined 

 the beach at our ltinding-pla.ce, we gained the foot of a long 

 ridge, which leads to the highest point by a rough but not 

 very steep ascent. The lower part was open and bare of vege- 

 tation, and was occupied by vast rmmbers of gannets and 

 mackerel gulls as a breeding-place ; thousands of birds sitting 

 on the rocks as closely as they could be packed. The gulls 

 had their quarters on the portion nearest the beach, and on 

 our near approach rose in the air, circling and sv»-ooning about 

 just above our heads, screaming and uttering the inost dis- 

 cordant cries. The noise from such a multitude of throats 

 was deafening, while the stench from the guano-covered rocks 

 was almost insupportable. Almost every little depression con- 

 tained a nest, and in some places they were packed so close 

 that it was impossible to advance without stepping on the 

 eggs. Our sailors vrere not long in discovering that the eggs 

 were fresh, and it vras amusing to see them breaking them 

 against the rocks, and tossing off the contents with the greatest 

 relish. On our return to the boat they collected quite a large 

 hamper of these delicacies for the use of their messmates on 

 board the steamer. The gannet-rookei'y v^-as of much larger 

 extent, and from the multitude of the jjirds, and their white 

 plumage, presented from a little distance a striking and at- 

 tractive sight. It wiis interesting to see the intentness with 

 which the birds watched our advance up the hill. Hardly any 

 attempted to leave their nests until v/e were close to them, 

 but they sat moving their heads from side to side, and utter- 

 ing hoarse screams. When we were almost treading on them 

 many attempted to take flight, but it was remarkable to see 

 what difficulty they had in doing this, x^pparently they are 

 unable to rise straight from the ground, but are obhged to run 

 downhill for a distance, flapping their wings, until they have 

 acquired sufficient momentum to lift themselves from the 

 ground. In their haste to escape they rolled over one anothe]-, 

 breaking and scattering their own and their neighboiirs' eggs, 

 and creating a scene of the utmost confusion. Quite a large 



