82 Mr. W. L. Scl&teT—Saldanha Bay 



exulans), or Giant Petrels (Ossifraga gigantea); they had 

 probably started for their breeding-grounds in the Crozettes 

 and other islands far away to the south. 



We arrived at Hoetjes Bay about G p.m., and I at once 

 made arrangements to visit some of the bird-islands on the 

 following day. These are five in number, and are all, like 

 Dassen Island, the property of the Colonial Government, 

 which works them chiefly for the guano produced yearly by 

 the millions of birds nesting there. 



Early the next morning Mr. Kasner, who is in charge of 

 Marcus, and has been connected with the islands for the 

 greater part of his life, took a friend and myself off to visit 

 Jutten Island, outside Saldanha Bay, a little to the south of 

 the narrow entrance. This island differs from most of the 

 others in having a small kopje, perhaps about fifty feet in 

 height, in the centre. All round, about twenty or thirty 

 yards from the sea, there is a low stone wall built to keep 

 out the Penguins, aud within the enclosure thus formed were 

 to be seen Trek-Duikers' (Phalacrocorax capensis) nests in 

 thousands, the greater part of the island being covered with 

 birds just commencing to breed. 



The nests, which are about a foot in diameter, are placed 

 on the ground, and are made of the stems of plants and 

 grasses growing on the islands. The eggs, three to five in 

 number, are regular ovals, almost equally pointed at both 

 ends. They are chalky in texture and white with pale blue 

 underlying the white; the average measurement is 55 x 34 mm. 

 (about 2^x1 1 inches) . 



Hovering overhead were a good many Gulls of two species 

 (Larus dominicanus and L. hartlaubi). These are terribly 

 destructive, and carry off: all the eggs and young Duikers 

 left unguarded by their parents. I was told that the Gulls 

 nested on the kopje in the centre of the island. As the 

 Duikers are very easily scared, we were not allowed to go 

 within the enclosure, but we found a few birds nesting 

 outside, and were able to secure some eggs. 



On some rocks by the shore were several Bank-Duikers 

 [Phalacrocorax neglectus) also sitting on their nests. The 



