CO 
gannetS. 
J 
one margin of the lagoon. On tlie coral the pirate- 
crabs carried about their homes, and numbers of 
them were maundering on the shore, staggering 
under their borrowed houses. Wading-birds were 
fishing the waters of the shallow lake; saiid23ipers 
Avere running over the yielding sands ; snipe were 
j)robing the oozy mudbanks round the margin ; and 
a few lierons eager for crabs Avere standing on one 
leg in the middle of the AA^ater. 
1 he number of gannets on the island Avas astound- 
ing, the ground in some j)arts being literally strcAfn 
Avith their eggs. Their nests Avere shalloAA^, and 
com^^osed of straAvs and sticks. In them generally 
reposed cither two eggs, or tAvo unfledged, calloAv 
young ones, Avith greedy eyes, big heads, and 
gaping mouths, straining their necks for food. 
Their mothers stood around; and I noticed that 
the contents of the pelican-like j)ouch they carry 
under their bills chiefly consisted of flying-fish, the 
flaAmu’ of Avhich the hungry infant-gannets ajij^eared 
fully to apjneciate. 
The “ Actmon proceeded to Hong Kong, AATiere 
