Aves. 



151 



to help his mate when in danger is marked. It builds its nest in 

 cavities of the rocks, or cracks in the mountain side, and lays but 

 one egg." On the 15th of November (p. 222) he writes : — " How 

 different it was to travel on those bright nights, instead of having to 

 work in the darkness as we did in the winter-time," 



" Many of the Pagodroma nivea were about " (p. 222), " and the 

 air sounded with their original and remarkable half-wliistling, half- 

 shrieking voices. They did not seem to have immediate intentions 

 of settling down to the quiet family life of the season ; they were 

 still seen to flirt about in pairs in the air, though some of them began 



ICE PETREL IN ITS NESTING-PLACE. 

 {By permission of Sir George Newnes, Bart.) 



to repair their old nesting-places in cavities of the rocks. Their 

 nests were still in many instances filled with snow, and the bird was 

 gradually thawing a hollow downwards towards the rock by sitting 

 at the place from time to time. They were, however, very restless, 

 and I expected that still a fortnight would go before they would 

 begin to lay their eggs. 



" On the 20th November I discovered a fine Pagodroma on its 

 nest some 300 feet above my tent. I at once set to work, and 

 managed to mine a hole through the roof of the cave in which it was 

 resting, so that the light could come in for photographic purposes. 



