Southern planter., 1832-12-22

domestic geese; very palateable when cooked, heng
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 yclow 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 ladie 3 dresses But the down Of the abaiross
is superior 10 any thing Of the kind that have ever
seen; though that Of the shag approaches the near
est 10 il in quality If any method could be inven-
ted to divesi it Of that dsagreeable shy odour pc
culiar 10 all oceanic birds, il would be the most
valuable down ever brought 10 this country; and |
believe that their feathers might be made equally
as valuable as geese feathers.
The teal is likewise found here, and surprising
IN beauty those Of this country Their bills and
feet are blue, their wings of golden green; and
the plumago Of their bodies more brilliant and sb
nIng than that Of the pintodo.--The ducks are
similar to those Of our own country There is al
so goose here, called the lowland goose which
somewhat resembles our tame geese. The males
are Of vaTiegated hue n 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 shOl6sh and rock kelp, which gives
their flesh very unpleasant flavor.
October 9-On the day after our arrival at
Now Island, all hands were set to work. in the dis
charge Of their peculiar and various duties. A
part OF the crew were engaged in refttRg the schoo
ner, by repairing her sails, rigging, &c. Another
part we're occupied in filling water, 4 the remainder
we're employed in gathering eggs from the rookie
res on the back side of the Island. As the latter
process Is not destitute Of interest, shall take this
opportunity 10 make the reader better acquainted
with South Sea rookery, which is certainly great
curiosity. Indeed know Of few peculiartes in
the history Of animated nature that are better cal
culaied TO lead rejecting mind to a serious con.
temptation ofthe mercifu economy Of Providence,
il his government of the creatures TO which he
has given existence, than the one now under con-
sideration
By turning back 20 the Introductory Sketch,n
page xiv, The render will find in a note my dein-
iilOn Of the word rOokery, as applied TO certain
oceanic animals. II is temporary encampment
of such animals, 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 proceed to the
execution of the grand purpose for which they el
their 6vorite element In the first place they care
Iully select piece Of ground, Of suitable extent,
oiten comprising -four OF five acres, and as near the
water as practicabe always preierring that which |
s the least encountered with stones, and other hard
substances, with which it would be dangerous to
lave their eggs come in contact As soon as they
IRE satisfied on this point, they proceed TO lay out
he plan of their projected encampment; which
ask they commence BY tracing well defined par
Telegram, of sufficient magnitude to accommo-
late the whole faterniiy, say from one to five acres
do .E
er's edge, and is always left open foi egress and |
egress, the other three sides are differently arTan
ed.
Thee industrious feathered laborers next pYo-
eed to clear all the ground within the square from
Instructions Of every kind, picking up the stones
n their bills, and carefully depositIng them outside
the lines before mentioned, until they sometimes,
~ this means, create quite little wall on three |
ides of the Tookery. Within the range of stones |
md rubbish they form pathway, six or eight feet
n width, and as smooth any Of the paved or gra-
relied walks N the New York Park, or on the Bat |
cry. This path is for general promenade by day,
md for the sentines 10 patrol al 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 cgoss each other al right an.
giles, aud which are also made very smooth. At
each intersection of these paths an aba,ross con
strucs her nest, while in the centre of each little
square is penguin's nest so that each albalross
IS surrounded by four penguins; and each penguin
has an albarosS for its neghbor in four directions
In this regular manner is the whole area occupied
by these feathered soourners, Of different species
leaving, at convenient distances, accommodations
for some other kinds Of oceanc birds, such as the
shag, or green cormorant, and another which the
seOmen call Nelly
Although the penguin and the albatross are on
such Intimate terms, and appear to be so affection
ately and sincerely attached to each other, tbey not
only form their nests in very different manner.
but the penguin will even rob her friends nest
whenever she has an opportunity. The penguin's
nest is merely slight excavation in the earth, lust
deep enough to prevent her single egg rolling from
Its primitive position; while the albatross throws
up little mound of earth, grass and shells, eight
or ten inches high, and about the size of water
bucket, on the summit Of which she forms her
nest, and thus looks down upon her nearest neigh.
bors and best friends.
None Of the nests in these rookeries are ever le,
unoccuped for single moment, until the eggs are
ha'ched 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 prompt.