Oct.] A SOUTH SEA ROOKERY. 51 



goose, and is about the size of our domestic geese ; very palatable 

 when cooked, being sweet, tender, and juicy. Their plumage is rich 

 and glossy ; that of the gander a dazzling white ; his bill being short 

 and black, and his feet yellow. The edges of the feathers which 

 cover his breast and neck are black. The down is nearly equal to 

 that of the swan, and would make beautiful trimming for ladies' dresses. 

 But the down of the albatross is superior to any thing of the kind that 

 I have ever seen ; though that of the shag approaches the nearest to 

 it in quality. If any method could be invented to divest it of that 

 disagreeable fishy odour peculiar to all oceanic birds, it would be the 

 most valuable down ever brought to this country ; and I believe that 

 their feathers might be made equally as valuable as geese feathers. 



The teal is likewise found here, and far surpassing in beauty those 

 of this country. Their bills and feet are blue ; their wings of a golden 

 green ; and the plumage of their bodies more brilliant and shining than 

 that of the pintado. The ducks are similar to those of our own 

 country. There is also a goose here, called the lowland goose, which 

 somewhat resembles our tame geese. The males are of a variegated 

 hue, a kind of mixture of white and dark gray, chiefly white. The 

 females are mostly gray, and resemble the brant of the United States. 

 They are not quite so large as our geese, and feed on shellfish and 

 rock kelp, which gives their flesh a very unpleasant flavour. 



Oct. 19. — On the day after our arrival at New Island, all hands 

 were set to work, in the discharge of their peculiar and various duties. 

 A part of the crew were engaged in refitting the schooner, by repairing 

 her sails, rigging, &c. Another part were occupied in filling water ; 

 and the remainder were employed in gathering eggs from the rookeries 

 on the back side of the island. As the latter process is not destitute 

 of interest, I shall take this opportunity to make the reader better 

 acquainted with a South Sea rookery, which is certainly a great curiosity. 

 Indeed I know of few peculiarities in the history of animated nature 

 that are better calculated to lead a reflecting mind to a serious con- 

 templation of the merciful economy of Providence, in his government 

 of the creatures to which he has given existence, than the one now 

 under consideration. 



By turning back to the " Introductory Sketch," page xxiv., the reader 

 will find in a note my definition of the word rookery, as applied to 

 certain oceanic animals. It is a temporary encampment of such ani- 

 mals, for the purpose of bringing forth their young ; and they unite in 

 immense numbers, and with great industry to construct it. 



When a sufficient number of penguins, albatross, &c. are assembled 

 on the shore, after a deliberate consultation on the subject, they pro- 

 ceed to the execution of the grand purpose for which they left their 

 favourite element. In the first place, they carefully select a level piece 

 of ground, of suitable extent, often comprising four or five acres, and 

 as near the water as practicable ; always preferring that which is the 

 least encumbered with stones, and other hard substances, with which 

 it would be dangerous to have their eggs come in contact. As soon 

 as they are satisfied on this point, they proceed to lay out the plan of 

 their projected encampment ; which task they commence by tracing a 



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