212 BIRD-HUNTING 



Europe. And it is the greatest reproach against 

 England by the Balkan peoples that Turkey is 

 solely able to remain by her influence in maintaining 

 the status quo. There is no doubt that by rights the 

 Turks should be driven out entirely, being as they 

 are a retrograde power, utterly opposed to all progress 

 and enlightenment. 



The Pelicans seemed to be in smaller numbers 

 than last year, but they were just as shy and watch- 

 ful as ever. They drew the line at any approach 

 nearer than 300 or 400 yards, even when we 

 lay down flat in one of the small dug-out canoes, 

 and were paddled slowly and cautiously towards 

 them. It was hopeless to try to get within gun- 

 shot ; and though one day I had several shots with 

 my rifle, lying down in a wobbly canoe makes rifle- 

 shooting very uncertain work at such a distance, and 

 I never succeeded in hitting one of them, though 

 they had some extremely narrow escapes. 



We had planned to revisit the nesting colony by 

 boat, intending to sail down the coast with tents, 

 &c, and camp out again on the shores of the lagoon. 

 When the day came, however, such a strong sirocco 

 wind was blowing that the attempt by boat had 

 to be abandoned, and we determined to ride as 

 before. As the weather was still (March 13) very 



cold, we took my tent as well as B -'s, so that 



the men should also have some shelter at night. 



