TURNSTONE. 53 



round a second time to the other side, and recommenced their 

 trenching operations, with a seeming determination not to be 

 baffled in their object, which evidently was to undermine the 

 dead animal before them, in order that it might be the 

 more easily overturned. 



While they were thus employed, and after they had 

 laboured in this manner, at both sides alternately, for nearly 

 half an hour, they were joined by another of their own 

 species, which came flying with rapidity from the neighbouring 

 rocks. Its timely arrival was hailed with evident signs of 

 joy. I was led to this conclusion from the gestures which 

 they exhibited, and from a low but pleasant murmuring noise 

 to which they gave utterance as soon as the new corner 

 made his appearance; of their feelings he seemed to be per- 

 fectly aware, and he made his reply to them in a similar 

 strain. Their mutual congratulations being over, they all 

 three fell to work, and after labouring vigorously for a few 

 minutes in removing the sand, they came round to the other 

 side, and putting their breasts simultaneously to the fish, 

 they succeeded in raising it some inches from the sand, but 

 were unable to turn it over: it went down again to its 

 sandy bed, to the manifest disappointment of the three. 

 Besting, however, for a space, and without moving from their 

 respective positions, which were a little apart the one from 

 the other, they resolved, it appears, to give the matter 

 another trial. Lowering themselves with their breasts close 

 to the sand, they managed to push their bills underneath the 

 fish, which they made to rise to about the same height as 

 before; afterwards, withdrawing their bills, but without losing 

 the advantage they had gained, they applied their breasts to 

 the object. This they did with such force, and to such 

 purpose, that at length it went over, and rolled several yards 

 down a slight declivity. It was followed to some distance 

 by the birds themselves, before they could recover their 

 bearing. They returned eagerly to the spot from whence 

 they had dislodged the obstacle which had so long opposed 

 them; and they gave unmistaken proof, by their rapid and 

 continued movements, that they were enjoying an ample 

 repast as the reward of their industrious and praiseworthy 

 labour. 



I was so pleased and even delighted with the sagacity and 

 perseverance which they had shown, that I should have 

 considered myself as guilty of a crime had I endeavoured 



