THE ISLE OP BIRDS. 211 



purple-backed land-crabs. One of the latter had 

 the tail of the fish in its claw, while the hermits 

 were tugging at the head ; others were crawling 

 around the defenseless bird as if trying to make 

 up their minds whether to attack it or not. 



'' I should think it was a struggle," said 

 Tom, giving the nest a shake. " Why, they're 

 regular robbers ! " 



" Worse than that," retorted Dick ; " as 

 they steal from children, I think the noddies 

 must be kept busy if they have to feed their 

 young and all these crabs." 



Tom and Dick now started up the beach to 

 see an old wreck, while Harry and the doctor 

 followed along through the bush. The latter 

 had gone but a few yards when they found sev- 

 eral flying fishes caught in the bushes and dried 

 in the sun. 



" They couldn't have flown here, could they ? " 

 asked Harry. 



" No, they were probably dropped by the 

 gulls when chased by the large nian-o'-war 

 hawks that you saw hanging so still in the air 

 over the light-house the other day," replied the 



