274 THE STORY OF A BIRD LOVER 



After waiting a long time for the return of the 

 birds, and exploring neighboring bays without 

 discovering more, I returned to the schooner ; but 

 the next morning was off bright and early, and on 

 reaching the first bay the large flock was again 

 found feeding. Instead of approaching by boat 

 this time, I landed and toiled in spite of the 

 mosquitoes to a point of vantage, perhaps some 

 three hundred yards from the birds, where I 

 could readily examine them, both with the naked 

 eye and by the aid of a glass. 



While feeding, they were stretched out in a 

 long line, generally in a single rank, but some- 

 times in two platoons. The line varied in length 

 at times ; now it extended for a mile, and again 

 it contracted to some six hundred feet. When 

 stretched to its extreme length, it was broken in 

 places, intervals of a hundred feet being the 

 longest open spaces. 



During the time the birds were feeding, there 

 were three small parties, varying from two to five 

 individuals, that were evidently doing picket-duty. 

 At each end of the line, about a hundred yards 

 from it, was posted one of these parties, and off- 

 shore, about the centre, a third outpost was sta- 

 tioned a hundred feet away. At intervals of half 

 an hour, or perhaps a little longer, individuals 

 composing these picket-squads would take wing, 

 fly to the flock, and alight, and in less than a 



