The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-07-22

i
that congregate at these rookeries, we
shall be less surprised at the marvellous
quaint les of guano obtained there.
$50 soon as the ship was safely moor
ed, and dinner over, boat was manned
for the shore. After sending on board
the ship some geese and ducks which we
had shot soon after landing, we started,
taking along large salt basket in which
to bring back some eggs for supper; for
the bird rookery, which lies up valley,
| on the opposite or sea-board side of the
| island is at distance of something like
three quarters Of mile across to it. This
rookery, las it is called) contains, or ex-
tends over. a patch of ground of from
four to six acres, on side hill, surround
ed with high bogs of the coarse grass cal
led tussucks. Over this area the birds,
such as the albatrosses, penguins, and
shags, have their nests, and to all ap-
pearance cover the entire surface in one
grand assemblage. In fact, 20 closely
side by side are they mixed together, that
there is considerable difficulty in walking
among them, great caution being neces-
sarily exercised lest one should tread
upon them, for they are so void of fear
as to suffer themselves to be taken with
the hands : yet in order to proceed, one is
constantly obliged to push and kick them
out of the way. On their part nothing
backward, they return this rough manner
Of proceeding, with continued pecking
and biting at the hands and feet, frequent
ly with such painful nip as to start the
blood. A continued cackling is kept up
by this feathcred fraternity to such de-
gree Of clamorousness, that persons walk
ing among them, within yard of each
other, cannot understand what their COM
panions are talking about, or even hear
them, unless the speaker calls out in a
loud voice what he has to say.
The albatross is the largest bird in
this rookery. Their nests are built with
mud, mixed with coarse grass, much in
the form of sugar loaf, but concave at
the top, which formes the nest, about
fourteen inches in diamete at the base
and from sixteen to twenty-four inches in
height. On the top of this mound. its
nest, sits this noble bird. in seeming pride
and grandeur. They generally lay from
two to four eggs, and in defence of these,
or their young, will suffer themselves to
be destroyed rather than abandon them.
The seamen, in order to obtain their eggs,
manage by the assistance of their zeal
clubs, to pry the bird off its nest with
one hand, while with the other they gath
er the eggs; so soon as this is accom-.
plshed the bird resumes its former posi-
ton, and soon lays more. Between each
of these monuments for the nest of the
albatross, formed of parcels or punches
OF pebbl S, mud, dry sticks, grass and
feathers, which they have been able to
get together, are the nest. Gf they can
be so calledD Of the penguin and the
shag. These will also most stoutly defend
their own, and slap from the side arms
OF the former, against the shins, is very
painful.
The albatros begins to lay its eggs about
the tenth of October these are some-
what larger than those of the goose, hav.
ing shell of dull white, the yolk be-
ing yellow, and if well cooked, makes a
good dish for the table. The shag's eggs
are speckled, with blood red yolk, and
are not good for eating, having a strong
fishy taste. The eggs most preferred Of
all that the South Sea country produces,
are those of the Mackaronie penguin
This noble bird commences its laying du-
ring the first part Of November have
never Known their eggs to be obtained at
this rookery earlier than the second day
of this month. These are size larger
than those of our domestic ducks, with a
white shell. and much stronger than
theirs; the substance being little of the
light blue cast, with yellow yolk slight
ly tinged with crimson. They were al
ways preferred by the officers so much
SO, that while the ship lay here some
were frequently served up at the cabin
table with those of the common hen, cook
ed in different ways and invariably se-
lected on account of their superior fl vor,
and not being so dry as the hens. There
are four different kinds Of this amphibious
bird, viz; the King Penguin, which is the
largest, the Jackass penguin, tn John
| penguin, and the Mackaronie: it is this
last only that inhabits the rookeries with
toe albatrosses the other three keeping
by themselves.
The Mackaronie is about sixteen inches
high, and has on each side of its head
tuft Of thin feathers, richly variegated in
color, which gives the bird very cons =
quential and proud appearance In its
walk, or rather march, it is as erect as
soldier. One could sit for hours and OBJ
serve their manner of approaching the
shore, after spell of feeding in the sea !;
to effect this purpose they make choice of
a spot where the sea breaks directly a.
gainst the side of the rocks, and while yet
some seventy yards from the landing
place, swimming moderately along in solid
columns of hundreds together, towards it,
commence diving and coming up again to
the surface at short distances this is
continued until about thirty eet of their
landing, when they dive again, and come
up in the surf ten oil. twelve feet from the
rock, with such velocity as to land upon