NESTS AXD ItGGS OF AUSTKA/./A.V h'/A'DS. g^l 



necks, make a loud cackling noise, and, spreading- out their tails, lean 

 forward and put tlieir he;ids several times first on one side and then on 

 the other side of each otlier ; and when a bird makes its way through 

 the colony, cverj' sitting bird that it passes makes a lunge at it with open 

 beak, and it has to i-un the gaimtlet while passing through. 



" The nests are situated at varying distances one from the other, from 

 a foot upwards, some on the gi'ound and othere again on the uneven 

 side or top of a point of rock. Some of the birds had evidently come 

 on shore to rest only, while a few of them had their heads tiu'ned back 

 and partially under their wings, and were asleep. 



" Wlien one wished to fly, it had to walk to the edge of the cliff and 

 go off with a downward sweep ; but when the wind was blowing veiy 

 strong tlie bird could then rise, facing it, from a. point of rock. One 

 bird was found in a depression about 60 feet across and 30 feet deep, 

 with steep sides, and it could neither climb nor fly out, so, having caught 

 it, I climbed up the bank with the bird under my ami and took it back 

 to the ' rookeiT.' Tlieir nests had the appearance of being used year 

 after year, probably being only renovated each season. One unused 

 nest was seen ; it was in good preservation, although it had a little 

 vegetation gi-owing on it. 



" This species was named the ' Shy Albatross ' by Gould ; but nothing 

 of the nature of shyness was noticed either at sea, or on land, for when 

 crossing Bass Strait the birds frequently came within a. few feet of the 

 vessel and settled on the water again and again twenty feet away, in 

 their endeavours to seciu'e the barracouta hook which was dragging 

 through the water. The hook was baited with a piece of wood and 

 red flannel, and they were easily caught witli a hook and line. Sir 

 Walter Buller was informed by a collector that these birds nested on 

 the Snares on high rocks,* and rose off their nests on being approached 

 and circled higli in the air ; but I think his informant must have mistaken 

 the bird, as thh Albatross cannot rise off its nest, unless under excep- 

 tional circiunstances. Those on this island took very little notice of 

 a visitor, and one could walk anywhere through the ' rookery ' without 

 disturbing them ; it was only with considerable difficulty and force that 

 they covild be made to leave their nests. A far more suitable name 

 would have been the ' Wliite-capped Albatross,' as the cap is pure 

 white, marked off by the dark shading on each side of the eye, and this 

 feature is very striking. 



" On approaching very close to the birds they would partly stand 

 up on their nest, leaning backwards and apparently resting the tail on 

 the edge of the nest, and then facing the intruder. When one was 

 within two feet of them, they would utter a loud cackling noise, shaking 

 their heads up and down and opening and shutting tlieir beaks rapidly. 

 A considerable noise was made by the mandibles coming together, and 

 at the same time a strong-smelling oily secretion was thrown up. In 

 order to seciu-e an egg, the bealc of the bird was caught hold of with one 

 hand and the egg taken up with the other, and on stepping back the 

 beak was let go again ; the bird would sit or stand on its nest for some 

 time afterwards. 



• Another variety [T. stilviiti]. 



