Oh. VIII.] BIEDS OP CEAIG ISLAND. 119 



about, making a great noise ; and large white patches upon 

 the hill-side proved, with the aid of a telescope, to he un- 

 quiet flocks of gulls and tern, in constant movement. On 

 searching for a landing-place we observed, somewhat to our 

 surprise, a rude hut, with a piece of blue cloth waving be- 

 fore it and doing duty for a flag. Seeing one or two human 

 figures, we at first took them for shipwrecked mariners ; but 

 we soon discovered that they did not seem anxious to be 

 relieved from their position, and they ultimately proved to 

 be two Chinese egg-collectors. In their huts were large 

 numbers of eggs, but for what purpose they collected them, 

 how they came upon the island, or how they were to get off 

 (for they had no kind of boat) was a puzzle, and remained 

 so, for our Chinese servants could hold no intelligible com- 

 munication with them. 



A tent was pitched on the beach for the purpose of taking 

 sidereal observations ; but I preferred remaining on board 

 till daylight. The noise and chattering of the birds could 

 be heard aU night, one now and then crossing the ship ; and 

 at dawn I landed and walked through the thick herbage, 

 laden with dew, to the top of the island. Every here and 

 there, in a clear patch, a number of wideawakes, differing in 

 no respect from the wideawakes of Ascension, were seated, 

 scattered at intervals over the ground. On my approach 

 they chattered and croaked, and made as though they were 

 ready to run at me ; but thinking better of it, they would 

 rise with a clumsy fluttering, and take wing. They mostly 

 perched upon the large overgrown stones, from which they 

 rose easily ; but if they happened to be upon the herbage they 

 floundered along, vainly endeavouring to rise, until they 

 reached the edge of a stone, over which they tumbled, giving 

 their long wings room for extension. They were pretty 



