244 • ^\f^ of Auduhon, 



ing assured us that nothing could be lost by waiting, 

 spoke of our eating, and on this hint told that he would 

 take us to a part of the island where ' our breakfast 

 would be abundant, although uncooked.' Off we went, 

 some of the sailors carrying baskets, others large tin pans 

 and wooden vessels such as they use for eating their 

 meals in. Entering a thicket of about an acre in extent, 

 we found on every bush several nests of the ibis, each 

 containing three large and beautiful eggs, and all hands 

 fell to gathering. The birds gave way to us, and ere long 

 we had a heap of eggs, that promised delicious food. 

 Nor did we stand long in expectation ; for, kindling a 

 fire, we soon prepared, in one way or other, enough to sat- 

 isfy the cravings of our hungry maws. Breakfast ended, 

 the pilot, looking at the gorgeous sunrise, said, * Gentle- 

 men, prepare yourselves for fun ; the tide is a-coming.' 

 Over these mud-flats a foot or two of water is quite suffi- 

 cient to drive all the birds ashore, even the tallest heron 

 or flamingo ; and the tide seems to flow at once over the 

 whole expanse. Each of us, provided with a gun, posted 

 himself behind a bush, and no sooner had the water 

 forced the winged creatures to approach the shore, than 

 the work of destruction commenced. When it at length 

 ceased, the collected mass of birds of diflerent kinds 

 looked not unlike a small haycock. Who could not with 

 a little industry have helped himself to a few of their 

 skins ? Why, reader, surely no one is as fond of these 

 things as I am. Every one assisted in this, and even the 

 sailors themselves tried their hand at the work. Our pi- 

 lot, good man, told us he was no hand at such occupa- 

 tions, and would go after something else. So taking 

 ' Long Tom ' and his fishing-tackle, he marched ofi" quietly 

 along the shores. About an hour afterwards we saw him 

 returning, when he looked quite exhausted ; and on our 

 inquiring the cause, said, * There is a dew-fish yonder, 



