266 Mr. D. A. Bannerman on a Collection of 



M-itli tlie cries of the birds at our feet, and a crowd of them 

 flying over our heads it was most bewildering. 



Passing south-west we came to the curious lane which the 

 Gannets leave for the flightless Penguins to pass to and 

 from the sea from their nests. We walked up this narrow 

 path, and found a colony of Penguins nesting in small 

 burrows under the rocks. I took some eggs_, -which are 

 excellent eating and have a commercial value of twopence 

 each at the Cape, and also a nice young specimen in the down. 

 Retracing our steps, we visited the Bank Cormorants (Phala- 

 crocorax neglectus). These are Large, dark birds, and can be 

 distinguished at a glance from all the others by having no 

 bright skin coloration about the head. There was no diffi- 

 culty in obtaining them or their chalky-blue eggs. The nests 

 were composed of seaweed and built on pinnacle rocks. The 

 headman now sent for some empty sacks as our basket was 

 overflowing. He told me that there was another kind of 

 Bank Cormorant, Avith white spots on the rump, so we went 

 to see these at the south end of the island, but they proved 

 to be the same species in adult plumage. I took a pair 

 of these and a nice fluffy nestling. Amongst this colony 

 of Bank Cormorants were a quantity of Trek Cormorants, 

 which are so called on account of their roving habits, 

 whereas I seldom saw the others far from their breeding- 

 ground or the shore. They are quite the commonest of all, 

 and can be easily distinguished from the others by the bright 

 yellow throat ; the eyes are green, and the brilliant metallic- 

 blue eyelids are most beautiful. After taking some eggs and 

 several specimens, we walked back to Penguin lane, where 

 we hopped over the Penguins' heads to try and avoid their 

 beaks, as they bite severely, even through putties. We then 

 crossed the ridge of the island to where the Reed Cormorants 

 (P. ofricanus) are to be found. These are the most handsome 

 of all with their dark bodies, red faces and eyes, black crests, and 

 long tails. The nests were placed on rocks, and built, as usual, 

 of seaweed, for which they dive, and it is amusing to see them 

 flying home with quantities in their beaks. The structures 

 are generally said to be built of sticks, but as there is 



