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proved to be the only one on which successful landing,' on this storm-swept island was possible. 

 ()n reaching the summit of the cliffs, we came upon the main colony, consisting of about two 

 hundred Albatross (Dioiiiidia laiila) sitting on their nests, each of which contained a single egg. 

 Others were scattered about the face of the cliffs, making up a total of about two hundred and 

 fifty to three hundred all told. The nests were neat circular mounds, twenty to twenty-two 

 inches in diameter at the base, eighteen inches at the top over all, the hollow eleven by three 

 and a half inches deep, height six to nine inches generally, though a few did not exceed three 

 or four inches ; they were built of sand, tussock-grass and excrement firmly cemented together. 

 The birds had in every instance to be lifted up, or moved from the nest when taking the eggs 

 on being removed they made no effort to get away, but tried either to scramble back again or 



SIIY ALBATROSS FEEDING YOUNri. 



Stood alongside ; they snapped their beaks at us when molested, or when brushing past them, 

 for the nests were only about three feet apart. The expression of the birds was very strikmg, 

 as they stared straight at us with a most forbidding and lowering look in their dark eyes. 1 his 

 was intensified, or perhaps caused, by a fringe of feathers protruding over the upper part of the 

 eye. The note is prolonged for three or four seconds, resembling the neighing of a foal. The 

 surface of the egg is rough, the ground colour varying from creamy-white to pinkish-white. 

 The markings in some cases consist of a few light brown or reddish-brown freckles or smudges, 

 in others they are more numerous, and are dark red or reddish-brown, sometimes forming a 

 cloud over the larger end, whilst in others there is a broad band of spots and streaks over-lying 

 the lighter colour. These markings occur chielly at the larger end, only a few minute spots and 

 freckles being in some specimens dispersed over the remainder of the surface. Two eggs were 



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