424 EAMBLES OF A NATUEALIST. [Ch. XXIV 



these insects I saw carrion flies upon the rocks, a hunting 

 spider, and numerous small carrion beetles (Dermestes) in 

 situations to be presently mentioned. 



The lava and cinders in the neighbourhood of South-West 

 Bay are whitened here and there by the dung of sea-birds ; 

 but the extraordinary scene of the breeding-place of the 

 terns, or wide-awakes, and called " Wide-awake Fair," is a 

 long valley situated about half a mile from the sea in the 

 south-eastern part of the island. The approach to this 

 valley is indicated by an overpowering odour arising from 

 their deposits, which, however, do not accumulate as in some 

 guano islands. Seen from the hill above, this vaUey looks 

 as though a light fall of snow had partially whitened it ; but 

 in no place was there any appreciable depth of deposit. The 

 birds themselves are in immense numbers, hovering over the 

 valley, screaming and making various discordant noises, 

 which, heard at a distance, sound like the murmur of a vast 

 crowd. They are elegant and graceful birds, glossy black 

 above and snowy white beneath, with white foreheads, straight 

 compressed beaks and long forked tails : they measured 2 ft. 

 6 in. from tip to tip of the wings, which are long and pointed. 

 As soon as a visitor makes his appearance among the nests, 

 numberless birds arise screaming in the air, and form a com- 

 plete canopy over his head ; some, bolder than the rest, fly 

 so close that it is the easiest thing in the world to knock 

 them down with a stick, and it is even necessary to strike at 

 them occasionally and give them a slight tap to admonish 

 them not to use their biUs against one's face. Meantime 

 crowds of little ones, of aU ages and sizes, some covered with 

 a grey down and others almost fully fledged, run hither and 

 thither, tumbling over the stones in their hurry to esc'ape 

 from the intruder. Here a chick has but just broken the 



