670 



THE BIRDS OF LORD HOWE AND NORFOLK ISLANDS, 



nests, taking eleven clutches of eggs. 

 showing their condition is interesting. 



The following table 



10 

 11 



Condition. 



[ ( 1. Fresh, but slight tinge of blood in jolk. 

 •N 2. Slightly incubated, considerable blood in yolk, and 

 ( albumen thickening. 



Both addled, contents thin, watery and offensive. 

 (The bird was sitting). 



Both nearly hatched. 



Jl. One-fourth incubated, legs formed. 

 (2. Slightly incubated, legs not formed. 



(1. About one-third incubated. 



12. Slightly incubated, but embryo dead. 



Both about half incubated; legs and wings formed. 



About one-fourth incubated. 



f 1. Nearly hatched. 



\2. Slightly incubated; embryo dead. 



1 1. Addled, thin, watery. 



^ 2. Addled, thin, watery, very offensive. 



' (No. 2 was lying outside the nest). 



\ 1. About half incubated. 



( 2. Rather more advanced than 1. 



Addled, thin, watery. 



The other nests contained young birds in varying stages, from 

 just hatched, "naked and unashamed," to the beautiful mass of 

 snowy white down of a bird three weeks old. In two cases there 

 were two living birds, just hatched, in the nest; and in one case 

 there was one living bird, just hatched, in the nest, and a dead 

 one was lying on a heap of twigs near the nest. In all the other 

 cases there was only one young bird. 



The conclusion I have ventured to draw from these facts is, 

 that, in this particular season and locality, the Gannets de- 

 liberately limited their family to one, either by neglecting one of 

 the eggs, and allowing it to get cold, or pushing it out of the 



