180 MUTTON BIRDS 



These central positions may be rather safer 

 from the seas ; they may be rather more sheltered 

 from the gales; and it may be that no Shag 

 owning a nest so situated, would care to forego 

 its advantages, just as no man would care to 

 change his lot in every way with that of any 

 other man. Amongst Shags, however, as 

 amongst men, no benefit can be enjoyed 

 without its accompanying disability; and 

 here on Kane-te-toe, the more safe and central 

 the position of the nest, the greater the 

 odium attached to its owner, and the more 

 fierce the hatred expressed. By its look when 

 about to journey forth, a Shag from one of these 

 centralmost nests, betrays his knowledge of the 

 greeting in store. In his aspect there is some- 

 thing of trepidation and nervousness, and 

 younger birds, I suppose, sometimes for a 

 moment hesitate, with the vacillating air of a 

 timid country woman at a crowded crossing, and 

 seem, in the yells of execration, almost to lose 

 their wits. 



There is no escape, however, each bird 

 vacating its nest, must pass down the lines, and 

 has to run the gauntlet, as it were, with lowered 

 head, feathers tightly compressed, screamed at 

 by every sitting bird, and barely out of striking 

 and pecking distance. 



To me, the conduct of the nestling Shaglets, 

 half grown fellows still in the wool, added still 

 another touch of humour to the picture. When- 

 ever the screaming heralded the approach of a 

 passer-by, each nestful on the track started at 

 once to life. Heads were everywhere reared 

 aloft, and the route thronged to enjoy the 

 spectacle. These nestlings were as fierce in their 



