THE ALBATROSSES OF LAYS AN 187 



seen on the higher ground, assembled in groups of twenty or more; as we 

 drew nearer they came up to greet us, some of them bowing profoundly. 

 They gathered about as we stopped to rest, pulling at our clothing with 

 their mandibles, and pecking at our luggage. If we offered to touch them 

 they retreated somewhat, but soon returned, their curiosity getting the bet- 

 ter of them. In flight the albatross, like an aeroplane, must rise against 

 the wind; with its wings fully extended the bird runs swiftly along the 

 ground until it has gained headway enough to rise. If thrown into the air 

 it cannot fly as do most birds, but instead falls heavily to the ground. 



About two years previous to our visit a party of foreign plume-hunters 

 landed on Laysan and for several months made the slaughter of sea birds 

 a business. Had they not been interrupted, they probably would have 

 exterminated the entire colony. As it was, thousands of sea birds were 

 destroyed, especially albatrosses. To-day there is about one-sixth of the 

 original albatross colony left, numbering approximately 180,000 — and to 

 one who has never beheld such masses of birds, this colony is a wonderful 

 sight. The level ground that surrounds the lagoon is wholly occupied by 

 them; also nearly every other part of the island, except the beaches, sup- 

 ports small colonies. 



The amount of guano deposited by the albatrosses and other sea birds 

 on this island has been estimated to be about one hundred tons daily. The 

 guano deposits were leased for a number of years to a company in Honolulu 

 but later the business was abandoned. A member of the company reports 

 that although there is an abundant supply of guano it is of low grade, owing 

 to the frequent rains that remove the ammonia. 



Much of the time of the Laysan albatross is spent in carrying out a 

 very strange performance. This performance varies, but usually goes on 

 in the following order: One bird approaches another with an indescribable 

 squeaking sound, bowing all the time. If the other bird feels like perform- 

 ing, which is usually the case, he bows in return. They cross bills rapidly 

 several times. Then one bird turns his head and lifts one wing in such a 

 manner that the primaries point directly out at the side. In the meantime 

 the other bird keeps up a loud noise that sounds like the neighing of a 

 horse. The bird taking the lead then walks around his partner, stepping 

 high like a negro cake-walker. This part of the procedure is usually closed 

 by one or both birds pointing their beaks straight up in the air while rising 

 on their toes, puffing out their breasts and uttering a long-drawn groan. 

 The same thing is repeated many times with slight variations. 



The albatrosses are said to begin nesting about the middle of November. 

 The one egg is laid on the ground, and the parent bird draws the sand or 

 earth about her, forming a platter-like nest, in which the young albatross, 

 when hatched, spends the early part of its life; in fact it does not stray far 

 away even after it is able to walk about. I carried one of the youngsters 



