ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 101 



On making ray appearance, soon after breakfast, on 

 the rough stone jetty, near the sloping foot of which 

 the boat was moored, I at once perceived that Joseph 

 had anticipated my feelings with praiseworthy ardour, 

 as she evinced not only the still damp evidence of a 

 thorough matutinal cleansing, but the yacht-like order 

 of her tackle, and the care with which each rope or 

 sail was coiled, stowed away, folded, or disposed for 

 instant start, afforded silent but undoubted tokens of 

 sailor-like neatness and attention. A moderate- sized 

 deal box, which I had found most useful for containing 

 the birds shot on my two previous expeditions, was 

 again placed on board, together with waterproofs and 

 overalls, not forgetting to fill the locker with all due 



comestibles, both edible and potatory. Mr. D f 



again accompanied us, and as the inflated sail strained 

 full upon the yard, the aroma of the fragrant and 

 Virginian weed rose upon the gust that bore us from 

 the quay. 



I had taken care to provide myself with plenty of 

 ammunition shot, both large and small, wadding and 

 patches, and sundry neat packages of Eley's cartridges 

 were garnished with a goodly array of bright and fresh 

 cast bullets. Both my gun and rifle were brought into 

 requisition on this occasion, and the inspiriting 

 adjuncts of a gloriously sunny and most lovely 

 morning, while enhancing to the full the beaming 

 smiles into which Nature was again so benignly 



