52 



A SOUTH SEA ROOKERY. 



[1822. 



well defined parallelogram, of sufficient magnitude to accommodate 

 the whole fraternity, say from one to five acres. One side of this 

 square runs parallel with the water's edge ; and is always left open 

 for egress and regress ; the other three sides are differently arranged. 



These industrious feathered labourers next proceed to clear all the 

 ground within the square from obstructions of every kind; picking 

 up the stones in their bills, and carefully depositing them outside of 

 the lines before mentioned, until they sometimes, by this means, create 

 quite a little wall on three sides of the rookery. Within this range 

 of stones and rubbish they form a pathway, six or eight feet in width, 

 and as smooth as any of the paved or gravelled walks in the New- 

 York Park, or on the Battery. This path is for a general promenade 

 by day, and for the sentinels to patrol at night. 



Having thus finished their little works of defence on the three land- 

 sides, they next lay out the whole area in little squares of equal sizes, 

 formed by narrow paths which cross each other at right angles, and 

 which are also made very smooth. At each intersection of these 

 paths an albatross constructs her nest, while in the centre of each little 

 square is a penguin's nest ; so that each albatross is surrounded by 

 four penguins ; and each penguin has an albatross for its neighbour, in four 

 directions. In this regular manner is the whole area occupied by these 

 feathered sojourners, of different species ; leaving, at convenient dis- 

 tances, accommodations for some other kinds of oceanic birds, such as 

 the shag, or green cormorant, and another which the seamen call Nelly. 



Although the penguin and the albatross are on such intimate terms, 

 and appear to be so affectionately and sincerely attached to each other, 

 they not only form their nests in a very different manner, but the pen- 

 guin will even rob her friend's nest whenever she has an opportunity. 

 The penguin's nest is merely a slight excavation in the earth, just deep 

 enough to prevent her single egg rolling from its primitive position ; 

 while the albatross throws up a little mound of earth, grass, and shells, 

 eight or ten inches high, and about the size of a water-bucket, on the 

 summit of which she forms her nest, and thus looks down upon her 

 nearest neighbours and best friends. 



None of the nests in these rookeries are ever left unoccupied for a 

 single moment, until the eggs are hatched and the young ones old 

 enough to take care of themselves. The male goes to sea in search 

 of food until his hunger is appeased ; he then promptly returns and 

 affectionately takes the place of his mate, while she resorts to the 

 same element for the like purpose. In the interchange of these kind 

 offices, they so contrive it as not to leave the eggs uncovered at all ; 

 the present incumbent (say the female) making room for the partner 

 of her cares and pleasures on his return from the sea, while he nestles 

 in by her side until the eggs are completely covered by his feathers. 

 By this precaution they prevent their eggs being stolen by the other 

 birds, which would be the case were they left exposed ; for the females 

 are so ambitious of producing a large family at once, that they rob each 

 other whenever they have an opportunity. Similar depredations are 

 also committed by a bird called the rook, which is equally mischievous 

 as the monkey. The royal penguin is generally foremost in felonies 



