100 BULLETIN 121, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



end of the island, which soon presented the appearance of a vast beehive. 

 Thousands upon thousands of shearwaters were circling about with easy flight, 

 much more airy and graceful than that of shearwaters with whicli I am 

 familiar; especially was the difference accentuated when an occasional auri- 

 cularis with typical shearwater flight, skimmed through the throng. The 

 greater part of those birds which came from the higher parts of the island 

 descended at an angle of about 45°, with wings set until near the water, whea 

 they sailed off over the waves until lost to view, while others descending in a 

 spiral course joined their fellows in circling about the water at the foot of 

 the cliffs. There was little, if any, outcry, though the sobbing notes were often 

 heard from the birds on shore. One bird — doubtless an albino — had a pure 

 white head and dusky body, strongly suggestive of a Heermann's gull. It 

 circled several times about our skiff, which was an object of great interest to 

 the busy throng. 



Doctor Fisher (1906) says: 



A comparatively few at this season fly abroad during the day, but after dark 

 they begin to move about more, and one moonlight night we found them very 

 active and owl-like in their flight. At sea they are expert fliers, sailing with 

 immovable wings rapidly and readily close over the waves, as well against as 

 with the wind, and they can go across the breeze much more easily than can 

 the albatross. 



Regarding their vocal powers the same writer observes : 



Their note varies. When undisturbed they utter a dove-like khoo-who, 

 which changes to a loud khoo-oiv as they grow excited, and finally at the 

 height of their enthusiasm one hears only a yow-6w or oo-oio, quite like the 

 nocturnal serenade of cats. It seems to be a courting song, but is decidedly 

 unmusical. 



Mr. Homer R. Dill (1912) says, of the behavior of this species 

 on Laysan Island : 



It does not fly about much during the day, but sits in the mouth of its bur- 

 row and dozes in the sun. At times a dozen or more of these birds congregate, 

 apparently for the purpose of quarreling. Their cat-like squalls v/ill soon make 

 the listener wish to move out of hearing. The young were nearly fledged. 

 Apparently these birds were not killed to any extent by the poachers and they 

 number about 100,000. 



Dr. E. W. Nelson (1899) noted this species near the Tres Marias 

 Islands in April and May ; he writes : 



During our trip to and from the islands we saw 100 or 200 wedge-tailed 

 shearwaters. They were usually seen singly skimming along over the sea, at 

 an elevation of a few yards, making widely sweeping circuits and pausing 

 occasionally to pick up bits of food. When about midway between Isabel Island 

 and the Tres Marias we encountered several schools of small porpoises of 

 150 or more individuals, which traveled in close array, frequently gamboling 

 about and playfully leaping high in the air. A swarm of sooty terns followed 

 the porpoises, and twice when they passed near us I saw considerable numbers 

 of these shearwaters among the terns. Judging from the numbers, they must 

 be rather common in these waters, but none were seen near the islands. 



