846 
BIRD-LIFE. 
noisome stench as in the first place. The Cormo¬ 
rants, yonng and old, sitting complacently on their 
nests, bestowed wondering glances on the uninvited 
guests from their beautiful sea-green eyes, while the 
parent birds greeted us with a deep bass note, not unlike 
an outburst of laughter, which may in some way be 
compared to the sound 6 goc-goc-gog-gog-gog/ and their 
offsprings set up a curious whistling song, resembling 
4 haidioh, haidioh,’ which sound we thought rather 
pleasant than otherwise. As soon, however, as we 
disturbed this peaceful scene by a shot, the Cormorants 
darted from their nests like snakes, with the speed of an 
arrow from a bow, over the trees to the other side, but did 
not return so soon as the Herons. After we had hidden 
ourselves amongst the bushes they came back, flying at 
a great height round and round, examining to see if the 
coast was clear; and at last, as soon as they seemed 
satisfied that all was safe, they darted on to their nests 
with the same celerity as they had left them, squatting 
close, so as to keep themselves out of sight; their 
caution, however, proved unavailing, and several fell to 
our guns. The wounded showed a courage and determi¬ 
nation which quite surprised us : the winged birds turned 
at bay with great ferocity, dealing our dog such a hail of 
blows with their beaks as to drive him howling away: 
an old bird, which I had mortally wounded, gave me a 
blow through my trowsers which instantly drew blood, 
while my brother was struck by another on the forehead 
between the eyes, and narrowly escaped being blinded. 
The nests of these birds were larger and better built than 
those of the Herons, offering no small resistance to our 
shot. 
“In former days, and up to the year 1817, this island 
