938 



NESTS AND LGGS Of AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



and accordingly we find that in its actions and mode of flight it differs 

 ver}' considerably from all the other i species of Albatross, its aerial 

 evolutions being fai- more easy, its flight much higher, and its swoops 

 more rapid ; it is, moreover, the only species that passes directly over 

 the ship, which it frequently does in blowing weather, often poising 

 itself over the mast-head, as if inquisitively viewing the scene Selow; 

 at I this moment it oflere so inviting a mark for the gxmner, that it often 

 forfeits its life." 



Several of the scarce eggs of the Sooty Albatrosses were collected for 

 me by jVIr. J. R. Bm'ton on the bold west coast of Macquarie Island, 

 'iuey were taken about the middle of February last and were fresh. The 

 nests were situated singly on the sheltered sides of hills on the steep faces 

 of rock at about 800 or iJOO feet above sea level, and very duncult to reach 

 on account of the rotten rocks rendeiiug foot hold insecm-e. 



LatJiam states that it breeds on Tristan d'Acunlia. Mr. George 

 Comer, who collected one skin, a. skeleton, and ten eggs, on Gough Island, 

 and one t^gg on South Georgia, states : " It is the most dilhcult bird of all 

 to get at. They lay separately (not in ' rookeries '), usually on chii's 

 or projecting rocks. The nests are built small and low, of grass and 

 mud. They commence laying by the middle of September, and lay one 

 egg ; but when killed have a nimiber of small eggs inside. While 

 sitting on then- nests, they keep up a continual cry, similar to that of 

 a young goat. The beak is dark, with a yellow streak on each side. 

 Wliite rim on eyelids ai-ound, the eye." 



Diuing the voyage of the " Challenger," which, by the way, visited 

 Melboiu-ne and Sydney, 1874, Professor Moseley mentions that when 

 on Marion Island, end of December, 1873, four or five Sooty Albatrosses 

 were obsei-ved high up, at about an elevation of 500 feet, soaring over 

 the tops of the clifl's, where they were probably uestaug. This ,bii'd, 

 he says, is continually to be seen about cliffs and higher moimtain 

 slopes, and seems never to nest low down like the Molly Hawk and 

 Wandering Albatross. 



The Rev. A. E. Eaton^ of the British Transit of Venus Expedition 

 to Kerguelen, 1874-5, respecting the Sooty Albati'oss, wi-ote : " The 

 Sooty Albatross is common in Royal Sound. The hills near the sea, on 

 the mainland and islands, present occasionally places suitable for its 

 nidification. As a nile^ the nests are built in the most sheltered situa- 

 tions that can be found, at the foot of precipitous teiTaces of volcanic 

 rock, which are so characteristic of the neighboui'hood. Here and there 

 recesses hollowed out at the base of these ten-aces and cliffs are thoroughly 

 protected by the overhanging rock from wind and rain. In dry nooks 

 of this nature 1'. fii/ii/iiiusa constructs its nests of pieces of adjacent 

 plants (especially Festucu erectaj, disposed in the form^ of a low, tiim- 

 cated cone, hollowed out at the top. The nests appear to be used many 

 years in succession, as the original materials of several that were 

 o.xaminod seemed to have been reduced by age to vegetable mould. 

 Tho old fabrics are re-lined with fresh, diy gi-ass when the, birds return 

 at tho commencement of the breeding season. Tlie position of her nest 

 is liable to be betrayed to pei-sons walking within sight of the female 

 when she is sitting, for every now and then, while slie is observing their 



