52 oceanitidj:. 



detect tlie exact positions of several of these hidden birds. 

 They were easily caught when the stones were rolled aside ; 

 but they were in couples, merely preparing for laying, and 

 therefore we did not find any eggs. On our way hack to 

 Observatory Bay after the Transit, we called at the American 

 Station, and were informed by Dr. Kidder that he had ob- 

 served this Petrel on the shore near Molloy Point, The sea- 

 shore in the neighbourhood of Observatory Bay is of a 

 different character (for the most part) from that which is 

 adjacent to the American Station, and, being less favourable 

 than it, was seldom resorted to for nesting by the Petrels. 

 But the country in general about our bay afforded them un- 

 limited accommodation ; for, provided that they can find a 

 slope of shattered rocks with suitable chinks and crevices, 

 or dry spaces under stones or large boulders sheltered from 

 draughts, whether they be near the Sound or on the sides 

 and summits of high hills, they readily appropriate them. 

 The egg is laid upon the bare ground within the recess 

 selected by the birds, either in a chance depression formed 

 by contiguous stones or in a shallow circular hollow excavated 

 in the earth by the parent. Having found numbers of their 

 nesting-places, I will describe my method of searching for 

 them. Whenever there was a calm night I used to walk 

 with a darkened bull's-eye lantern towards some rocky hill- 

 side, such as the Petrels would be likely to frequent. It 

 was best to shut off the light and keep it concealed, using it 

 only in dangerous places where falls would be attended with 

 injury and progress in the dark was hardly possible, lest 

 the birds seeing it should be silenced. On arriving at the 

 ground selected it was probable that Storm-Petrels would 

 be heard in various directions, some on the wing, others on 

 their nests, sounding their call at intervals of from two to 

 five minutes. Those on the nest could be distinguished 

 from others flying by their cries proceeding from fixed posi- 

 tions. Having settled which of the birds should be searched 

 after, a cautious advance had to be made in her direction, 

 two or three steps at a time, when she was in full cry. As 

 soon as she ceased, an abrupt halt was imperative ; and a 



