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366 



AUDUBON 



mud-banks to the thickets of the island, so timorous had 

 they become when they perceived us. 



Surrounded as we were by so many objects that allured 

 us, not one could we yet attain, so dangerous would it 

 have been to venture on the mud; and our pilot, having 

 assure d us that nothing could be lost by waiting, spoke of 

 our eating, and on this hint told us that he would take us 

 to a part of the island where *' our breakfast would be 

 abundant although uncooked." Off we went, some of the 

 sailors carrying baskets, others large tin pans and wooden 

 vessels, such as they use for eating their meals in. Enter- 

 ing a thicket of about an acre in extent, we found on every 

 bush several nests of the Ibis, each containing three large 

 and beautiful eggs, and all hands fell to gathering. The 

 birds gave way to us, and ere long we had a heap of eggs 

 that promised delicious food. Nor did we stand long in 

 expectation, for, kindling a fire, we soon prepared in one 

 way or other enough to satisfy the cravings of our hungry 

 maws. Breakfast ended, the pilot, looking at the gorgeous 

 sunrise, said : " Gentlemen, prepare yourselves for fun ; the 

 tide is coming." 



Over these enormous mud-flats, a foot or two of water is 

 quite sufficient to drive all the birds ashore, even the tallest 

 Heron or Flamingo, and the tide seems to flow at once 

 over the whole expanse. Each of us, provided with a gun, 

 posted himself behind a bush, and no sooner had the water 

 forced the winged creatures to approach the shore than 

 the work of destruction commenced. When it at length 

 ceased, the collected mass of birds of different kinds 

 looked not unlike a small haycock. Who could not with 

 a little industry have helped himself to a few of their skins? 

 Why, reader, surely no one as fond of these things as I am. 

 Every one assisted in this, and even the sailors themselves 

 tried their hand at the work. 



Our pilot, good man, told us he was no hand at such 

 occupations and would go after something else. So taking 



