B REEDING -PLACES. 269 



number of these birds are assembled on the shore, 

 they appear, like the Herons, Storks, and some 

 other species, we have mentioned in the preceding 

 pages, to pass a day or two in deliberation ; on con- 

 cluding the consultation, they proceed to the execu- 

 tion of the grand purpose for which they are then 

 and there assembled. In the first place, they select * 

 as level a piece of ground as they can find, often 

 comprising four or five acres, and as near the water 

 as possible, always preferring that which is least 

 encumbered with stones, and other hard substances, 

 which might endanger their eggs. As "soon as they 

 are satisfied on this point, they proceed to layout the 

 plan of their intended encampment; which task they 

 commence by tracing a well-defined oblong, large 

 enough to accommodate the whole united parties. 

 One side of this square runs parallel with the water's 

 edge, and is always left open for coming in and going 

 out; the other three sides are differently arranged. 



The next step is to clear all the ground within the 

 space from obstruction of every kind, picking up the 

 stones in their bills, and carefully conveying them 

 outside the lines, until they sometimes raise quite a 

 little wall on three sides of their space. Within the 

 range of stones and rubbish they form a pathway, 

 six or seven feet in width, quite smooth. On this 

 path they all walk by day, and on it the sentinels 

 patrol by night. Having thus finished what may 

 be called their outworks, they next lay out the whole 

 area in little squares of equal size, formed by nar- 

 rower paths, which cross each other at right angles, 

 and which are also made very smooth. At each 



* See Morrit's Voyages. 



