366 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



we were low down, level, or a little below the surface of the water, 

 they appeared to be on the further shore of the lagoon in front 

 of a fringe of tamarisk-bushes, which we hoped would serve us 

 as a screen to enable us to approach them unobserved. As we 

 drew near, however, we saw that, instead of being, as we had 

 supposed, on the mainland, the nests were placed on two low 

 sandy islets devoid of any vegetation more than a foot high. 

 The men had told us that they could bring us to within thirty 

 yards of the birds without unduly alarming them, and this was 

 found to be correct. Getting out of my canoe into the shallow 

 water with the camera, I made a few exposures, but my stock of 

 plates was very limited, as one box had had its contents com- 

 pletely smashed and pulverized by some accidental knock in the 

 pack-saddles during our cross-country journey. We therefore 

 hurried back, determined to bring a tent and supplies for a few 

 days, with a full stock of photographic necessaries. The con- 

 sulate was reached the following day, and we began our prepara- 

 tions at once, so that early the next morning we were able to 

 dispatch two pack-horses early, thus giving them a good start, 

 while we ourselves followed a couple of hours later. By riding 

 hard all day over the hills, only stopping to give our horses and 

 ourselves a rest and a feed at midday, we reached the forest 

 on the shores of the lagoon in time to pitch the tent before 

 dark. 



Though we were quite a strong party, including, besides our- 

 selves, four men armed with Martinis and magazine rifles, it was 

 considered by the natives a very rash thing to sleep in this forest. 

 There was, as a matter of fact, some chance of an attack, as it 

 was a notorious resort for robbers ; but the night, or two nights, 

 passed quite quietly and peaceably. We were certainly much 

 more comfortable in our well-appointed tent than we should 

 have been in the village ; and we slept much better — my friend 

 in a camp-bed, and myself in a sleeping-bag on a bed of leaves, 

 covered with a mackintosh-sheet — than on doubtful sheepskin 

 rugs. After dark the effect was very fine, as the light of the 

 camp-fire flickered on the picturesque costumes and equipment 

 of our attendants, bringing their forms into strong relief against 

 the gloomy and mysterious background of the forest. 



Early in the morning we were afloat again, and I was soon 



