AND OTHER BIRDS 35 



to the utterly saturated condition of the peat, 

 could not do so. 



The proportion of holes shewing signs of use 

 was far short of even half the numbers of birds 

 seen on the wing. The immense majority of 

 the tunnel entrances were slimy and leaf- 

 blocked. On the other hand it was impossible 

 to mistake the holes in use, the peat scraped 

 out and lying everywhere on the Stilbocarp 

 leaves. 



. Our second evening was spent on a level of 

 peat thickly bored with holes, nearly bare of 

 trees, and high on the island. There or there- 

 abouts accordingly we ensconsed ourselves, far 

 apart enough at any rate for me to know that 

 I could not be disturbed. There is no greater 

 offence than even in the far distance to hear a 

 comrade sneeze and to know that the whole 

 forest is alert and suspicious. The very stillest 

 of mates should, when space allows, never be 

 less than half a mile distant, but in any case a 

 corpse is as a companion preferable to a man. 



Even clad in sweater, coat, and waterproof the 

 waiting seemed cold and long, for the Mutton 

 Birds did not appear until forty minutes later 

 than on the previous evening. We were 

 fortunate, however, in getting not only a dry 

 night but one, in addition, bright and clear. 



Many, I believe most, of the incoming birds 

 alighted on the cliff edges ; for, sitting dead still, 

 I could hear the faintest sound, and often the 

 first indication of a bird's approach was the 

 faint distant crackle of some small stick or twig, 

 a sound exactly similar to that which affected 

 so curiously the nestling Tits on Ulva. 



Then, later, the bird would pass me, softly 



