$70 NHSTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



listen attentively to detect tlie exact positions of several of these hidden 

 birds. They were easily caught when the stones were rolled aside ; but 

 they were in couples, merely preparing for laying, and therefore we did not 

 find any eggs. On cm- way back to Observatory Bay, after the transit, 

 we called at the Amei-ican Station, and were informed by Dr. Kidder 

 that he had observed this Petrel on the shore near MoUoy Point. 



" Having foimd numbers of their nesting places, I will describe my 

 method of searching for them. Wlienever there was a calm night, I 

 used to walk with a darkened bull's-eye lantern towards some rocky 

 hill side, such as the Petrels would be likely to frequent. It was best 

 to shut off the hght and keep it concealed, using it only in dangei-ous 

 places where falls would attend with injury, and progi-ess in the dark 

 was hardly possible, lest the birds, seeing it, shoidd be silenced. On 

 an-iving at the gi-ound selected, it was probable that Storm Petrels would 

 be heard in various directions, some on the wing, others on their nests, 

 soimding their calls at intervals of from two to five minutes. Those on 

 nests could be distinguished from others flying by their cries pi-oceeding 

 from fixed positions. Having settled which of the birds shoiUd be 

 searched after, a cautious advance had to be made in her direction, two 

 or three steps at a time, when she was in full ciy. As soon as she 

 ceased, an abrupt halt was imperative, and a pause of some minutes 

 miglit ensue before she re-commenced her ciy and permitted another 

 slight advance to be effected. In the com-se of this gradual approach 

 the position of the bird might be ascertained approximately ; but it had 

 to b© determined precisely, and to learn exactly where she had to be 

 stalked in the dark noiselessly. No gleam could be pennitted to escape 

 from tlie lantern. Loose stones and falls over rocks — to avoid them it 

 was sometimes necessary to dispense with slippers, and feel one's way 

 in stockings only, for should a Petrel be alaniied once with the noise or 

 with the light, she would probably remain silent a considerable time. 

 Wlien the stone beneath which the bird was domiciled was gained at 

 last, redoubled care had to be exercised. By stooping down and listening 

 very attentively her position could be accm-ately ascertained. The 

 lantern was suddenly tvu'ned upon her before she had time to' creep out 

 of sight, and her egg could be seciu'ed by tlie hand, or with a spoon tied 

 on to a stick. Sometimes I worked without lantem, and marked the 

 positions of the nests witli piles of stones, so that they might bo re-visited 

 by day. Several eggs were obtained in Febiniary from nests I had thus 

 marked early in the previous month. The first egg taken by us was 

 found by a retriever, on the 22nd January, on an island in Swain's Bay." 



Tlie eggs I obtained of tlic Yellow-webbed Storm Petrel were col- 

 lected by Mr. Robert Hall, who was most kindly permitted to 

 accompany Mr. Hans Cundersen, consul for Norway and Sweden, 

 Melbourne, on his oiling enterprise in the brig " Edward," to Kerguelen. 

 Between the 3rd and 14th Febniaiy, 1898, Mr. Hall found ten eggs, 

 some fresh, others much incubated, and seven nestlings. The latter 

 were clothed in vmiform gi'cyish down, with bill black, legs bluish, tinged 

 with faint yellow, and webs Ijright yellow. 



It is reported that the Antarctica Ex])e<Htioii under ]\lr. liori'hgrevink, 

 found this feathered ocean waif breeding in the cliffs of Victoria Land ; 

 if so, this is the furthest south nesting note for any Australian bird. 



