The Black Oyster-catcher 



Anon, birdlums! We are very much occupied just now with the 

 problem of landing. Our island is nearly surrounded by rocky shoulders 

 which are covered only at highest tide, and upon one of these, on the lee 

 side, we hope to disembark. Albeit there is little breeze, there is a heavy 

 swell running, and the boatman sculls cautiously as we draw near. Just 

 as we prepare to leap ashore with the cameras we are swiftly upborne by 



Taken near Pizmo 



AN ISLAND FORTRESS 



Photo by the A ulhor 



a quartering sea. "Look out!" the oarsman cries sharply, and we crouch 

 in terror as the dory seems about to be dashed in pieces upon the flooded 

 reef. But the boat just clears in the recoil and we go down, down, while 

 a swift pageant of mussels, barnacles, sea-urchins, and bright-hued 

 anemones shoots past us, sputtering and choking at the sudden exposure 

 to air. When we do effect a landing, we must scuttle for safety before 

 the next wave reaches, with a dull chug of satisfaction, our recent landing 

 place. 



The lower levels of the bird-rock are sacred to the Oyster-catchers, 

 and these engage our attention at once. Very diverting creatures they 

 are at any time, but never more so than at close quarters. As large as 

 domestic fowls, with sooty black plumage, they are provided with stout 

 feet and legs of a pale flesh-color, and a strong chisel-shaped bill of a 

 bright vermilion hue. The yellow eyes are surrounded by rings of car- 

 mine, which impart a droll appearance to these wags in feathers; and in 

 the midst of most earnest floods of bombast, they cannot forbear tipping 

 you sly winks, like auctioneers. 



Now and then one will alight quite near and stand for a moment 



1349 



