C4 HOMES WITUOUT hanhs. 



. . . About dusk, clouds of Mutton Birds came in from the 

 sea, and we amused ourselves with chasing them over the ground 

 among their burrows, and as many specimens as I required were 

 speedily provided by knocking them down with a stick. As 

 usual with the petrel tribe, they bite severely if incautiously 

 handled, and disgorge a quantity of offensive oily matter, the 

 smell of which pervades the whole island, and which the clothes 

 I then wore retained for a long time afterwards." The curious 

 association of the burrowing bird and the venomous snake is 

 very remarkable, and reminds the observer of the burrowing owl 

 and the rattlesnake which inhabit the tunnels of the prairie 

 dog. 



There are many other birds which pass a semi-burrowing life, 

 making their nests in hoUows already excavated, and either 

 using them without adaptation or altering them veiy slightly for 

 the purpose of depositing their eggs and rearing their young.- 

 The Jackdaw, for example {CorvTis monedula), is frequently one 

 of the semi-burrowers, making its nest within deserted rabbit 

 burrows, when it can find no more congenial locality. The 

 Stockdove (Columha cenas) is frequently found in similar situa- 

 tions, placing its rude platform of sticks within the burrow ; and 

 the common Sheldrake (Tadoma Vuljaanser) possesses the same 

 habit. 



The nest of the last-mentioned bird is always placed close to 

 the water, so that the young may be fed with marine Crustacea. 

 The female is accustomed to cover the eggs with down plucked 

 from her own breast. Eabbit warrens upon sea-edged cliffs, are 

 favourite resorts of the Sheldrake. In default, however, of 

 rabbit burrows, the Sheldrake is well content with any moderately 

 deep holes in the shore, and therein lays her enormous deposit 

 of eggs, which are from ten to fifteen in number, and of a white 

 colour. Burrows thus tenanted may be found in many situa- 

 tions, especially on the banks of estuaries, localities which are 

 always sheltered, and almost always produce an abundant supply 

 of food for the bird and its young brood. 



There is a bird which sometimes visits our island, and which 

 is more lovely in colour than the kingfisher, and far more elegant 

 in shape. This is the Bee-eater (Merops apiaster), so common 



