94 AN OFF -DAY— 
pathetic to see her sitting there alone and 
unprotected, patiently doing her duty through 
the many weary days of incubation, impelled 
by the instinct that taught her to look for 
the family that was to be; and thesyjem 
that it would bring to her. This great bird 
could have given a good account of herself 
if interfered with. The male, however, as 
we have before observed, would gallantly 
do his part, too; and would not forsake her 
or the cygnets till they could (in three or four 
months’ time) take care of themselves. We 
did not know where he was, so we kept a 
sharp look-out lest he should be dozing in 
the ‘ Bridal Path’ (see Part I, p.12)and make 
a sudden onslaught on our calves. 
Each day that we landed on this island a 
cock blackbird would invariably frisk into 
the bushes with a loud impetuous ‘ fee, tee, 
tee, tee, tee, uttered .as he flew. ~ This@tie 
bird often does when disturbed. We caught 
sight of him, with his brilliant black coat and 
bright yellow beak. We thought that his 
behaviour suggested a nest, as it was the 
