198 Mr. R, Hall on Birds 
^v'hirling immediately above us, ^itli many others still higher 
iu the air. Noticing the latter, it is evident i^ a moment 
th^t they soar easily; for in such a position they will sustain 
their flight for many minutes together with no apparent 
liappiug of the wings. The wheeling is either upwards or 
downwards, but mostly in the latter direction. Croaking 
emanates principally from the birds xix the " rookery,''^ 
gcreeching from those above, and the cry of '' wide-a-wake '^ 
from a few in the distance, All three sounds may be heard 
^loft. 
At the further end of the island was anothey '^ rookery '^ of 
like proportions. The opening day of the laying- see^son meant 
that the birds^ evening fishing-excursion was abandoned. Asi 
the sun was setting, at 6,45 p.m., they were as active and noisy 
as during the other hours of the day. At 9.30 the din was 
just as strong, and before daylight the babel was still much 
the same. The fishermen told me that on this first night 
tio birds sleep, The whole island is flat and untimbered, and 
the two compact ^'^ rookeries '"* severally occupy a few acres as 
far away from each other as the length of the island permits. 
Apart from the breeding-months the " Wide-a-wake " is not 
to be seen on these islands during daylight, but Mr. Beddoes 
says that it may be heard overhead in the night. That 
gentleman further told me that when nesting is concluded all 
the birds leave together or at about the same time, meaning 
that within three days the whole three thousand comprised 
in each " rookery " move away to sea. The young are daily 
trained to go further from land and to remain longer absent, 
the instruction and encouragement occupying three or four 
weeks. While the " Sooties ^^ are breeding upon the 
ground, the ^' Noddies''^ are nesting upon the bushes some 
two or three feet above it ; and when some of the eggs are 
exchanged the birds make no objection, but " sit on.^'' The 
*< Noddies " will hatch out the " Sooty's '' eggs and feed the 
young until they are ready to run about, but no longer. 
The old " Noddy " is a quiet unassuming bird, and certainly 
does not like the noise of the young '' Sooty,'^ w hich is '' a, 
phip of the old block.'' So pugnacious is the latter species. 
