BREEDING PLACES. 
257 
number of these birds are assembled on the shore, 
they appear, like the Herons, Storks, and some 
other species, we have mentioned in the preceding 
pages, to pass a day or two in deliberation ; on con- 
cluding the consultation, they proceed to the execu- 
tion of the grand purpose for which they are then 
and there assembled. In the first place, they select * 
as level a piece of ground as they can find, often 
comprising four or five acres, and as near the water 
as possible, — always preferring that which is least 
encumbered with stones, and other hard substances, 
which might endanger their eggs. As soon as they 
are satisfied on this point, they proceed to lay out the 
plan of their intended encampment ; which task they 
commence by tracing a well-defined oblong, large 
enough to accommodate the whole united parties. 
One side of this square runs parallel with the water s 
edge, and is always left open for coming in and going 
out; the other three sides are differently arranged. 
The next step is to clear all the ground within the 
space from obstruction of every kind, picking up the 
stones in their bills, and carefully conveying them 
outside the lines, until they sometimes raise quite a 
little wall on three sides of their space. Within the 
range of stones and rubbish they form a pathway, 
six or seven feet in width, quite smooth. On this 
path they all walk by day, and on it the sentinels 
patrol by night. Having thus finished what may 
be called their outworks, they next lay out the whole 
area in little squares of equal size, formed by nar- 
rower paths, which cross each other at right angles, 
and which are also made very smooth. At each 
* See Morrit’s Voyages . 
VOL. II. 
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