AND OTHER BIRDS 47 



alarm ; on the other hand the rush of the shutter 

 released passed unheeded. 



These Gulls perhaps trust so much to sight 

 that other senses may have grown less keen, or 

 upon them less reliance may be placed. 



The owners of the first nest under observation, 

 never very happy over their choice of site, 

 finally deserted, after giving me a single chance 

 with the camera. 



My second hiding hole, a sort of rocky 

 dungeon roofed with bull kelp, was an excellent 

 and comfortable construction. With legs ex- 

 tended and at ease I had a magnificent view 

 along the base of the red cliffs, and could see 

 in the distance after the alarm of my presence 

 had subsided, Gull after Gull return to its nest. 



The pure whites of a sitting bird make it very 

 conspicuous, and from our launch far out at sea 

 each incubating Gull appeared a dazzling speck. 



Upon my disappearance into the bowels of 

 the earth those birds with nests most distant 

 from the camera at once returned to their duty, 

 and this confidence spread gradually down the 

 shore-line until but one pair that couple most 

 near to me remained in doubt. They for long 

 stood together on a rock just awash in deep 

 water. Then still together they moved forward, 

 then one alone approached in several short 

 flights until within fifteen or twenty yards. At 

 last, so silently that I was unconscious of it, the 

 female took her place on the eggs. 



It is always during these last minutes that the 

 watcher's anxiety culminates; and no lover looks 

 more eagerly for his mistress's approach than 

 the enthusiast for his bird. It is impossible to 

 stir or call, and inquietude as to past conduct, 



