39^ Boobies and Penguins 



I was so fascinated by the busy scene that for long I 

 did not stir, and so was able to witness the return of 

 some of the mothers, who had been almost immediately 

 successful, with quite large fish in their mouths, which, 

 dropping among their screaming young, they proceeded 

 to distribute, at the same time keeping a bright look-out 

 upon those conscienceless, lazy marauders who con- 

 tinually endeavoured to steal. 



In an hour after full day they were practically all 

 away, although, as I have said, occasional stragglers, 

 having been rewarded with an early catch, came 

 dropping in with their prizes for their families. Then 

 came my shipmates, bent on egg-collecting, but I was 

 glad to see that now they were a little more discrim- 

 inating than on the previous day. They examined 

 the eggs to see whether they were edible or not, and 

 when they found a couple of helpless unfledged ones 

 in a hollow, they merely gave them momentary dis- 

 comfort by taking them up and examining them ; 

 they did them no harm. Together we took a thorough 

 survey of the great space occupied by the nesting 

 Boobies, and admired the business-like way in which 

 the parents provided for the needs of their offspring, 

 also the ease with which the food was obtained. The 

 sea over and adjacent to the reefs literally swarmed 

 with surface-fish just of a convenient size for the birds 

 to handle, and they, the birds, never seemed to flag 

 in their earnest endeavour to get their living and 

 provide for those dear to them. Of course they were 

 all very much alike, but after a time of careful watching 

 I was able to single out those who were most energetic, 

 finding that even here, where instinct ruled, there 

 were degrees in industry as well as among men. 



The male birds had a reservation of their own, and 

 seemed to be held in considerable disfavour bv both 



