2OO SOME BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



steamed along on our way to St. Croix, the birds look- 

 ing a pure chalky white against the blue sky, as they 

 sailed with outspread wings over the water, even the 

 cloud of spray that replaced them as they dived scarcely 

 rivalling their plumage in purity of white. Gannets 

 will keep under water for a considerable time, and just 

 as one begins to surmise when any particular bird 

 is going to come up again, it will suddenly appear, 

 floating lightly upon the water, turn its head quickly 

 from side to side and then take wing, leaving feet- 

 marks upon the sea as it gradually rises. 



When we had gone a distance of about six miles 

 or so we altered our course slightly, in the direction of 

 a vessel that lay at anchor by itself, which we were told 

 was a dynamite ship, and as such had been banished to 

 this lonely anchorage. It was a large vessel, and as we 

 drew up underneath it, our skipper fastened one or two 

 parcels and a bundle of newspapers to a line that the 

 occupants of the ship let down for the purpose. They 

 asked us the news, and inquired of us where we were 

 going to, so after satisfying their curiosity we bade 

 them goodbye and continued on our way. 



St. Croix was now visible, outlined against the 

 distant line of sand-hills which forms the northern 

 boundary of Algoa Bay, but as the island is only 

 perhaps fifty or a hundred feet in height it was not 

 until we were within reasonable distance of it that we 

 could distinguish it from the coast line. We could see 

 with the aid of our glasses that Gulls, both old and 

 young, were circling over the island ; these would 

 probably be the African representative of our Great 

 Black-backed Gull. 



