The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-04

created on the moment, hundreds and
thousands of birds appear and whirl around,
and fill the air with bizarre sounds, and
cover the ground with black moving forms,
which run from hole to whole, each one, as
it seems, seeking it's proper residence. They
disappear, and the earth covers them, but
still thousands more arrive.
The mystery of the mutton-birds' COM
ing is as great as the mystery of their dis
appearance. The darkness deepens, the
near us; they will fly against us if we are in
their way. They run on the ground be-
meath our legs, they are caught with the
hand.
1t is the strangest, weirdest sight have
witnessed in animated nature. 1t is
Walpurgs night of the feathered tribe.
The darkness increases, and We must
wend our way to the boat or we shall be
pushed for the night. This march back
over Cape Woolamai from the western
shore to the eastern passage is one Of the
hardest parts of this malanga. We are
as we force our way through patches of
| thick scrub and tussocky grass. l do not
think it is any exaggeration to say that
there are millions of holes on the seward
side of Cape Woolamai. The birds follow
us wherever we go. They flop around us in
ground. They gurgle and groan i'll their
holes. Earth and air are filled with
''uncanny'' sounds. The nearest thing
in nature to which We can com.
pare this note OF the mutton
bird IS the first note of the
deed am l, when we reach the cliffs on the
other side of the cape, and by the reflection
of the camp-tires on the beach below see
our boat with others at anchor. The party
of San Reno ladies are waiting to sail back
with us. They are carried on board by
CT rT}xyE Lot 1ch law
with the sail and anchor. The Italian Fly
slips fast through the waters. Looking
back. We see the camp.tires, which cast
deep shadows on the background of cliffs,
and lights up the faces of the mutton
birders. Many boats have already arrived,
l am told perhaps 800 people will be camped
under Cape Woolamai, who all next day
will be egg hunting. These men come from
all round Western Port, and take 1av q
large number of eggs, which are preserved
for future food, besides having a pleasant
days party of five fishermen from Hast
ings obtained 2S5 dozen of mutton-b irG
eggs. There is profit as we'll as sport il
this.
The lights of the camp-fires fade away
suggest to my artist friend that thu
scene We have left Is worthy of Salvato
Rosa, suggestion which he rathe
scorns, as also the hint that the sail through
the dark waters reminds me of Venice
The young ladies sing sweetly to while
away the time and altogether it i.
very pleasant trip back to Sal
night the tired and hungry party feed o.
tender steak, cooked at this late hour b.
kindly Mrs. Fraser, and sleep the sleep o
the just on good beds, and awak
thoroughly refreshed in the early mornin
with renewed appetites for breakfast, a
which eat mutton birds egg, part of tn
| spoil of the young Ballarat lady. the schoo
marin who was one of our last night
, party.
had been told by many persons tina
these eggs have strong, disagreeablt
! | tishy flavor. ind them, when eaten frest
, to be as good as any fowls egg
with no perceptible difference IN taste.-
! Frank Leslie's Magazine.