lO W. K. Fisher, Habits of the Laysan Albatross. ^^^^ 



against boobies, and I am inclined to agree with him. If we 

 brushed too near the young Gonies they were quick to resent the 

 intrusion, and flew into a rage, leaned forward and snapped their 

 beaks rapidly in an attempt to strike terror to our hearts. Or 

 frequently they would waddle out of their shady retreat and 

 attack us, as it were, on our own ground, stumbling forward in 

 wabbly efforts to reach us. Sometimes they would trip up in a 

 petrel's hole or fall clumsily forward on their chins, and promptly 

 disgorge their breakfast at us. Unless my observation is lacking, 

 they always seemed to stumble preparatory to this fusillade, which 

 once delivered left them looking very dejected indeed, as hunger 

 is their chief trouble. Usually after the first paroxysm is over 

 one can stroke them with little danger of scratched hands. They 

 maintain a small fire of objection, with impotent nips, or try to 

 sidle off. But occasionally a youngster is fully aware of his 

 powers. 



When undisturbed these absurd creatures sit for hours on their 

 heels with their feet tilted in air, gazing stupidly ahead, with 

 little intelligence in their stolid countenances. (Plate VI, Fig. 2.) 

 They are peaceable as a rule, but sometimes engage in mild squab- 

 bles with youthful neighbors. The shallow basin-like hollow in 

 which the egg is deposited is the young Albatross's home, and it 

 usually does not stray far, except on these little forays. But later 

 the same feeling of growing strength leads them to slowly fan their 

 wings from time to time. During a light shower we saw a consid- 

 erable colony thus engaged, the wave of motion passing far away, 

 as new companies caught the enthusiasm. The movements were 

 kept up for some minutes and proved a novel sight. I have seen 

 young birds collect dried grass and similar material, which hap- 

 pened to be within reach, and carefully cover the hollow in which 

 they were sitting, as if trying to form some sort of cushion. 



A spirit of inquiry also sometimes leads the young Gony into 

 trouble. We found one buried to its neck in a collapsed petrel bur- 

 row, yet still living. From the condition of the surrounding soil 

 it was evident that the creature had been in this predicament for 

 some time, and had been faithfully tended by its parents. Nor 

 did it fancy being dug out, but objected most vigorously to our 

 interest. When finally restored to a normal position, it took a 



